Amritsar, February 9, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
The passenger traffic at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport Amritsar has managed to bounce back from the pandemic and has seen a steady increase by expanding its international and domestic network. In a press communique, the global convener of FlyAmritsar Initiative Sameep Singh Gumtala shared the information that analysis of data available from Airport Authority of India revealed that the airport welcomed a total of 22.4 lakh passengers in calendar year (CY) 2022. This is 95% of the pre-pandemic traffic recorded in year 2019 when airport had highest ever yearly footfall of 25.63 lakh passengers. Also, the total traffic during the year 2022 recorded a growth of 69.39% as compared to previous year 2021 total footfall of 13.2 lakh.
The analysis of data shows that the airport recorded strong international traffic growth of 111.4% in 2022 year-on-year. The airport recorded footfall of 650,862 international passengers as compared to 307,842 in CY2021. International aircraft movements were up by 68.5%. The domestic traffic for the year also recorded strong growth of 56.2% year-on-year to 15.88 lakh passengers and domestic aircraft movements also up by 37.1%.
According to the data released for December month by AAI, the traffic at the airport reached to the highest number of 240,200 since India imposed complete lockdown in March 2020 and suspended flights across India. Before lockdown, the highest number was 255,364 recorded in December 2019. With CAT-3B instrument landing system, the airport recorded very few cancellations or diversions due to fog when visibility was less than 50 meters, added Gumtala.
At present, over 10 airlines are serving the market of Amritsar with over 420 weekly departures and arrivals to 11 domestic and 10 international destinations. The airport is now connected to more Int’l destinations than in 2019, including Rome, Milan Malpensa and Milan Bergamo Airport in Italy. It is also connected with direct flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow and Birmingham airport. The FlyAmritsar initiative is in contact with executives of various airlines, to further enhance the international connectivity of Amritsar in 2023. It is further expected to expand with the start of new routes from destinations across the globe in the upcoming months.
Expressing displeasure with the Punjab government, Gumtala said that if the govt. had started the bus service
from other cities of Punjab to Amritsar airport, the footfall in 2022 could have been even higher. Bus service from many cities in Punjab is being launched to Delhi airport. Like the previous government, the Aam Aadmi party government is also discriminating against the airport, ignoring this long pending demand of bus service, which will provide cheaper mode of transport to the passengers to reach the airport. Instead, the State govt. is encouraging passengers to fly from Delhi by providing this cheap mode of transport from Punjab only to Delhi airport
Gumtala further added, Amritsar has a huge traffic potential but restrictions of bilateral air services agreements with many countries including Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Germany hinders the growth of international
traffic. Last year, Emirates again requested India to add the holy city Airport as point-of-call in air agreements which will allow them to start flights. Ministry of Civil Aviation has refused any such requests as they want Indian carriers to operate flights from regional airports.
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