Chandigarh, March 26, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab’s largest and busiest Sri Guru Ram Das Jee (SGRDJ) International Airport in Amritsar has outperformed other international airports in the country in February 2024 with a significant 35.9% increase in international passenger traffic as compared to the same month in February 2023.
The highest 38.4% growth was recorded for Nagpur International Airport with 9,207 passengers.
Citing figures recently released by the Airport Authority of India, Sameep Singh Gumtala, the FlyAmritsar Initiative Global Convener & Overseas Secretary of the NGO Amritsar Vikas Manch stated that the total international passenger footfall in February reached 94,625, compared to 69,634 passengers in February 2023.
This figure marks the highest ever for February and the third-highest in the airport’s history. The highest ever international passenger footfall of 1,06,813 passengers was recorded in December 2023, with the second highest of 96,924 in January 2024.
Gumtala attributes the growth in international traffic to the addition of new international flights from the airport after April 2023, including Kuala Lumpur, Milan, Rome, London and Birmingham.
Due to this, the international aircraft movements increased to 474 from previously recorded 402 in February 2023. It is also notable that more Punjabis are now opting for direct international flights from Amritsar instead of Delhi.
Expressing satisfaction with the data, Gumtala highlighted that while the increase in international traffic is significant, the increase in domestic traffic should also not be overlooked. Domestic passenger footfall also rose by 13.6% to its third-highest total ever of 1,90,866, compared to 1,68,076 passengers in February 2023.
Gumtala noted, “February witnessed a significant rush as the airport, with airfares skyrocketing on the Delhi-Amritsar route due to start of farmer’s protest.
Consequently, large number of NRI’s faced inconvenience in travelling from Punjab to Delhi and took flights from the airport.
The data reveals the same, that although domestic aircraft movements increased only by 0.4% from 1263 in February 2023 to 1268 in February 2024, passenger traffic increased by almost 23,000 passengers.
This once again highlights that thousands from Punjab choose to travel by road to Delhi Airport for Int’l flights,”
The total passenger footfall of 2,85,491 in February 2024 is also the second-highest ever in the airport’s history, following a significant surge in footfall in December 2023 with 3,38,512 passengers.
Despite reaching a milestone figure of more than 10,000 daily passengers, Gumtala expressed disappointment with the Mann Government for neglecting Amritsar Airport.
Despite numerous requests, the airport still sans bus connectivity with other cities in Punjab. Instead, the State Government is promoting and increasing bus connectivity from many cities in Punjab to Delhi airport.
The airport is currently connected with direct flights to 9 International and 11 domestic destinations including London, Birmingham, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Milan, Rome, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Srinagar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Shimla, Kullu and Pune.
