Passenger traffic at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport experienced a significant decline of 11.5% in August compared to the same month last year, according to a report released by GMR. The airport recorded 21,86,082 passengers in August this year, down from 24,70,499 passengers in August of the previous year. The drop marks a concerning trend for one of India’s busiest aviation hubs.
The decline has been attributed to several international developments affecting global travel patterns. The ongoing US-Iran tensions and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, combined with sanctions imposed by various countries under the previous Trump administration and rising fuel prices, have contributed to reduced passenger movement. These factors have created uncertainty in international travel and increased operational costs for airlines.
Breaking down the numbers, domestic passenger traffic fell by 13.6% while international passenger traffic declined by 26% at the Hyderabad airport. The drop in international travel was particularly sharp, reflecting the broader impact of geopolitical tensions on cross-border movement. The August decline was more severe than the previous month, as July had recorded a 9.6% decrease compared to July of the previous year.
The reduction in passenger numbers has directly impacted flight operations at Shamshabad airport. In August, the airport recorded 14,583 flight movements, representing a 14.2% decrease from the corresponding month last year. This decline in flight operations reflects airlines adjusting their schedules in response to lower passenger demand and challenging market conditions.
The GMR report indicated that most major airports across India experienced declining passenger traffic in August, with one notable exception. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport bucked the trend by recording an increase in passenger numbers. The Delhi airport handled 60,83,616 passengers during August, marking a 2.7% increase compared to August last year.
At the Delhi airport, international passenger traffic surged by 17% while domestic passenger traffic rose by 3%. Flight movements at the capital’s airport also showed positive growth, increasing by 11.6% compared to August of the previous year. The contrasting performance between Delhi and other major airports highlights the varying impact of current market conditions on different aviation hubs across the country.
