Context: Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a remarkable expansion in its aviation sector over the past few years, emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing states in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.
Key Highlights of Air Passenger Growth
- Between April and August 2025, over 60 lakh passengers flew from airports across the state—marking a 14.6% increase compared to the same period last year.
- The state’s share in India’s total air traffic rose to 3.52%, an increase of 34 basis points over 2024, implying that one in every 30 air passengers in India now travels from Uttar Pradesh.
- Domestic passenger numbers grew by 15.7%, while international travel saw a 4.3% increase during the same period.
- Overall air passenger traffic in UP increased from 59.97 lakh in 2016–17 to 142.28 lakh in 2024–25, recording a strong annual growth rate of 10.1%.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger numbers had dipped to 48.35 lakh in FY 2020–21, but the state achieved one of the fastest recoveries in the country, doubling its traffic within two years—reflecting robust aviation policies and efficient management.
- Compared to 2023–24, 2024–25 saw a 25.9% increase in total air passengers, with April–August traffic alone rising by 14.6%.
City-Wise Air Traffic Performance
- Ayodhya Airport has emerged as one of North India’s fastest-growing terminals, with passenger traffic increasing from over 2 lakh in 2023–24 to more than 11 lakh in 2024–25.
- Prayagraj Airport saw passenger traffic rise from over 6 lakh to 10.77 lakh, while Varanasi Airport crossed the 40-lakh mark in 2024–25.
- Gorakhpur Airport grew from 6.8 lakh to 8.67 lakh passengers, and Lucknow Airport registered a 4.1% rise in air traffic.
- These figures highlight the impact of religious tourism, regional connectivity, and infrastructure expansion on air travel growth across the state.
Cargo Traffic Growth
- From 5,890 metric tonnes in 2016–17, air cargo volumes have surged to 28,360 metric tonnes in 2024–25, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.1%.
- Lucknow Airport handled the majority of the cargo at 22,099 metric tonnes, while Prayagraj and Varanasi recorded growth of 50% and 27.7%, respectively.
- Kanpur and Agra posted record cargo growth of 165% and 247%, respectively, between April and August 2025.