The first quarter of 2024 has seen a sharp 12% decline in passenger traffic at Nagpur airport, as the number of travellers dropped by approximately 93,000 compared to the same period last year. The latest data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) indicates that from April to June 2024, passenger numbers plummeted to 6.66 lakh, down from over 7.62 lakh during the same period in 2023.
A closer examination reveals a significant drop in June alone, with passenger traffic decreasing by over 18,400 compared to June of the previous year. Among the seven airports classified under the JV International Airports category by AAI, Nagpur stands out for its sharp decline, while Hyderabad—the nearest major international airport—has experienced a 9.5% increase in passenger numbers. An analysis of flight fares for August shows that tickets from Hyderabad to various destinations are generally more affordable compared to those from Nagpur. This pricing discrepancy may be influencing passenger choice, as verified fare comparisons for routes including Nagpur to Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Kolkata indicate higher costs from Nagpur.
Nagpur airport is currently facing operational challenges due to planned recarpeting work on the runway, which has led to restrictions on flight operations. Despite notices issued to airlines, the recarpeting has yet to commence, resulting in significant disruptions. This issue has further exacerbated the decline in passenger traffic, with restricted runway access contributing to the problem. The airport, managed by Mihan India Limited (MIL)—a joint venture between a state government entity and AAI—has shifted the blame for the recarpeting delays to AAI. MIL officials have stated that while they are responsible for notifying airlines of operational restrictions, AAI is tasked with executing the actual recarpeting work.
Efforts to attract additional airlines have been hampered by the runway restrictions. Currently, IndiGo dominates the flight operations at Nagpur, while Air India operates a single daily flight and Star Air connects to four to five destinations. The grounding of GoAir and reductions in Air India’s flight schedule are also contributing factors to the declining passenger numbers. In contrast, AAI data shows a 10% increase in domestic flight movements nationwide during the same period, with international flight movements remaining stable. Nagpur airport recorded over 5,300 domestic flights and 276 international flights. A senior member of the Travel Agents Association, has also cited runway restrictions as a significant factor in the reduced passenger traffic.
