New flights at city airport push int’l passenger traffic up by 15%

Ahmedabad: The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI) recorded a 15% rise in international passenger traffic in the first half (H1) of FY 2025. This increase was driven by the introduction of new flights, new destinations and improved connectivity to existing destinations.Between April and Sep 2024, the SVPI airport handled 10 lakh international passengers compared to 8.5 lakh during the same period last year, according to data furnished by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The airport handled 60 lakh passengers during H1, recording an 8% growth. Of these, 50 lakh were domestic travellers, compared to 47 lakh last year, a 6% increase. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were among the most-travelled destinations, according to airport sources."Several people travelled to the US, Canada and Europe via Dubai and Abu Dhabi, especially in summer when leisure travel went up significantly. Last year, a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia was launched in addition to more flights to Thailand. As a result, the overall passenger traffic increased," an airport source told TOI.In Q2 (July to Sep), SVPI Airport saw a significant 10% rise in passenger movement, with 29 lakh passengers using the airport — up from 26 lakh in the same quarter last year. Notably, international passenger numbers rose from 4 lakh to 5 lakh during this period. Air transport movement (ATM) also grew by 14%, with 24,000 landings and take-offs in Q2, compared to 21,000 previously, reflecting the expansion in flight services. The most popular domestic routes continued to be Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.Ahmedabad is gearing up for a travel boom ahead of the wedding and holiday season with airlines adding new destinations and offering improved connectivity. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will roll out the Winter Schedule 2024, starting Oct 26. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport in Ahmedabad will soon connect passengers to four new destinations — Muscat, Da Nang (Vietnam), Srinagar and Keshod — through direct flights, according to top sources at the city airport.