Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport), has witnessed robust growth in international flight operations, connecting 23 international destinations in May’22 – the highest in South India.
The Airport continues to expand its international network and has also emerged as a major transfer hub in South India, supporting the development of India’s growing aviation sector.
BLR Airport witnessed 15% higher International ATMs per day between Mar ’22 and April ’22 and 48% growth in ATMs in May ’22 alone.
Additionally, average daily international traffic increased to 9,300 passengers by the fourth week of May ’22, compared to 6,500 in April ’22 and 5,500 in March ’22.
Major regions which have witnessed significant growth:
- Europe has witnessed a robust growth of 50% on a month-on-month basis in daily ATMs with growth across all four European sectors
- Southeast Asia has also witnessed 40% growth in average daily ATMs in May’22 compared to Apr’22 due to the gradual relaxation of entry regulations in many Asian countries.
- The Middle East also continues to see strong growth of 20% month-on-month in daily ATMs
Connecting new International Routes
BLR airport achieved significant milestones in enhancing connectivity and planning new international routes in CY 2022 –
- Qantas will begin four weekly flights to Sydney from September 14, 2022
- United Airlines is scheduled to begin daily flights to San Francisco in the last quarter of this year
- Two weekly flights to Tel Aviv (Air India) and daily flights to Seattle (American Airlines) are also planned for the near future. Additionally, new routes launched a few months before the outbreak of the pandemic are already re-connected. Addis Ababa, (connected by Ethiopian Airlines), Amsterdam (by KLM), and Tokyo Narita (by Japan Airlines) have been reinstated. Japan Airlines will increase frequency to Tokyo Narita to thrice a week, effective Aug ’22, and KLM plans to further increase frequency on Bengaluru-Amsterdam from the current 3 weekly frequencies to four-times-a-week beginning Jul’22.
Airlines currently operating at BLR Airport are expected to serve most of their international pre-covid non-stop destinations by Q2 of FY23.
BLR Airport as the Preferred Airport in South India
South India contributes to 30% of the National GDP, and Karnataka is leading the growth story of the entire southern region.
The major factor for the Airport’s growth includes suitable geographical positioning, covering 23 catchment cities within 75 minutes of flying time from BLR Airport.
This leads to a well-balanced traffic contribution to all major international destinations globally.
BLR Airport and its catchment areas contribute 44% to Southeast Asia, 43% to the USA, 37% to North America, 33% to Europe, and 23% to Africa (in all Indian traffic to global regions and countries).
