Amritsar, Feb 18, 2026(Yes Punjab News)
Passenger footfall at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar witnessed a sharp decline in December 2025, according to the latest monthly data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The figures form part of an analysis compiled and released by Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative.
According to the analysis by Gumtala based on AAI data, total passenger traffic for December 2025 stood at 267,525, compared to 340,408 in December 2024, reflecting a steep 21.4% year-on-year decline. International passenger numbers dropped from 110,670 to 95,774 (–13.5%), while domestic traffic fell more sharply from 229,738 to 171,751 (–25.2%), indicating that the slowdown was more pronounced on the domestic front.
For the full calendar year 2025, total passenger traffic stood at 31.45 lakh, down 8.2% from the record 34.26 lakh in 2024. While International traffic remained relatively resilient with a marginal 1.9%, dip from 11.14 lakh in 2024 to 10.92 lakh in 2025, domestic traffic saw a significant 11.2% decrease from 23.12 lakh to 20.53 lakh.
Aircraft movement data mirrors this trend. Total aircraft movements declined by 12.4% in 2025, falling from 22,614 in 2024 to 19,817 in 2025, with December alone registering a 20.8% decline compared to the same month last year.
Gumtala noted that while the airport saw a record-breaking start—with March 2025 recording an all-time high of 343,384 passengers—momentum was severed in May due to the India–Pakistan conflict, which led to temporary closures and reduced flight frequencies.
The year-end decline was further exacerbated by extreme weather and capacity cuts. Despite the airport’s advanced CAT-3B Instrument Landing System, dense fog in December frequently reduced visibility to near-zero, forcing several late-evening and early-morning cancellations. The suspension of international services by Neos Air (Italy) and Air India Express (Bangkok), alongside temporary IndiGo frequency cuts in December, significantly reduced available seats.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative expressed disappointment over the state government’s “step-motherly treatment” of the airport. Gumtala pointed out that while the Punjab Government actively promotes bus connectivity to Delhi Airport, it has failed to provide dedicated public transport for Amritsar’s own international gateway.
“Instead of strengthening local connectivity, state policy appears to favor Delhi and Chandigarh,” Gumtala stated. “Boosting Punjab’s economy requires supporting Amritsar Airport through improved ground infrastructure.”
Despite the setback, Amritsar remains connected internationally to Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Birmingham, London Gatwick, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, while domestic destinations include Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Kullu.
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