Mangaluru International Airport witnesses record passenger growth in July 2023

The Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) hit a new high in July 2023, recording its highest passenger traffic for the current fiscal year. Data revealed that the airport accommodated 1,62,667 passengers, breaking down to 1,07,455 domestic and 55,212 international travelers. Notably, these figures stand as the second-highest since its commercial operation date (COD) initiated on October 31, 2020.

The previous record was set in May 2022, with the airport handling a whopping 167,180 passengers, marking its all-time high since commercial operation date. Further diving into the statistics, the airport has seen an impressive upsurge of 24,037 passengers in the initial four months of fiscal year 2023-24, accumulating a total of 620,553 passengers. When stacked against the same timeframe in the preceding fiscal year, which documented 5,96,516 passengers, it’s evident that the Mangaluru International Airport is experiencing a considerable growth trajectory.

Monthly data accentuates this momentum. In April, the Mangaluru International Airport observed a footfall of 1,40,633 passengers, May saw 1,61,857, June recorded 1,55,396, and July witnessed 1,62,667. Interestingly, the marked increase in July, typically considered monsoon season, has played a pivotal role in these enhanced statistics.

Mangaluru International Airport registers record passenger growth in July 2023. Photo courtesy of Premnath Kudva/Wikimedia Commons.

Diving deeper into connectivity, the Mangaluru International Airport boasts direct domestic routes to major cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune. Unique flight connections exist to Mumbai via esteemed carriers like IndiGo and Air India, as well as a notable link to Ranchi. On the global spectrum, travelers have direct flight options to key destinations like Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, and Muscat, with a special connecting flight routed to Bahrain through Kannur.

Moreover, since inaugurating the integrated cargo terminal (ICT) in May 2023, the the Mangaluru International Airport has noticed a significant uptick in domestic cargo operations. Cargo metrics further emphasize this growth, showcasing 246 tonnes in May, 332 tonnes in June, and an impressive 376 tonnes in July. Notably, outbound cargo leads the pack with figures of 229 tonnes, 306 tonnes, and 354 tonnes in May, June, and July respectively. Inbound cargo predominantly comprises e-commerce products, stationery, and postal mail.

With this continuous growth both in passenger and cargo sectors, the the Mangaluru International Airport is rapidly carving a niche for itself as a major hub in India’s aviation landscape.