It seems that the aviation industry is witnessing a robust growth these days as Nagpur airport has handled over 22 lakh passengers in the first nine months of this calendar year. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport Nagpur has handled air passenger traffic of 22,08,174 from January to September of 2023. This is a remarkable feat as compared to the total air passenger traffic in 2022 was recorded at approximately 22,14,120. As per the data available with Airports Authority of India (AAI) there was jump in both domestic as well as international air passenger traffic at Nagpur airport. The domestic passenger traffic consisted of 21,62,907 and international air passenger traffic was recorded at 73,728. One of the travel agents on the condition of anonymity, said that the growth in number of air passengers on the domestic front was due to the improved economic scenario.

 

Also, tourism and jungle safaris are attracting tourists to Nagpur from all over the world. “Apart from this, there are many events happening in the country and other parts of the world. Besides, people from the city are also visiting various overseas and domestic destinations. This has increased the number of air passengers from the city’s airport,” he said. He further said that that positive growth is likely to continue at a fast pace in current calendar year. “I think there will be a further growth of 20-25 per cent in the number of air passengers travelling from the Nagpur airport,” he said. In the year 2020 aviation industry experienced a sharp downturn as the economy was hit by coronavirus pandemic and Government induced lockdown.

 

With this came travel restrictions on the movement of people and temporary suspension of flights from March 25 to May 25, the aviation industry was badly hit. The air passenger traffic in and out of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport Nagpur witnessed a sharp reduction from January to December 2020 which stood at 12,06,890 compared to 31,24,675 in the year 2019, a difference of 19,17,785 passengers, he said. A leading travel agent of the city confidently said that the air passenger traffic would reach pre-COVID levels and surpass those levels as the economy grows. Another travel agent suggested that domestic airlines should increase the number of flights and routes from Nagpur airport as there is tremendous growth in demand for air travel.