Airport shake-up: Bengaluru overtakes Mumbai in domestic traffic battle

engaluru airport emerged as India’s second-busiest domestic airport in April, handling 3.28 million domestic passengers compared to Mumbai’s 2.89 million, according to Airports Authority of India data.

Mumbai retained its position as the country’s second-busiest airport overall due to stronger international traffic, handling around 4 million passengers against Bengaluru’s 3.68 million in April.

Bengaluru airport had briefly overtaken Mumbai in domestic passenger traffic during the Covid-hit years of 2020 and 2021 in certain months.

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is operating with slot saturation due to its single-runway system, limiting further domestic expansion.

Incremental domestic growth from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is now being absorbed by the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport.

Mumbai recorded a 12% year-on-year decline in domestic passenger traffic in April, while Bengaluru registered only a marginal 0.8% drop.

Bengaluru recorded 3.28 million domestic passengers in April, reflecting steady growth momentum as it overtook Mumbai in the domestic traffic segment.

In the early to mid-2030s, Navi Mumbai airport is expected to handle more flights and passengers than Mumbai airport as operations expand.