Kolkata airport records over 2.15 crore passengers in 2024-25, projected to reach 2.5 Cr next year

Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is on track to surpass its pre-pandemic passenger footfall record in the upcoming financial year. With just a few days remaining in FY 2024-25, the airport has already registered 2.15 crore passengers by March 24, 2025, marking steady recovery and growth. This is a significant jump from 2 crore in 2023-24 and 1.78 crore in 2022-23. The airport had previously set its highest record of 2.2 crore passengers in 2019-20, which was disrupted by the pandemic.

Although the airport initially projected a footfall of 2.5 crore this year, a lag in international passenger movement led to a minor shortfall. In 2019-20, 29.4 lakh international passengers traveled through Kolkata airport, while this year’s figure stands at 23.8 lakh by March 25, 2025. However, the domestic travel surge helped compensate for this gap, with January and February 2025 recording 19.5 lakh and 18 lakh passengers, respectively—a 14.3% and 13.2% increase from last year.

The key reason for the international passenger lag, according to Kolkata Airport Director Pravat Ranjan Beuria, was the delay in the resumption of pre-pandemic flights. Several airlines, including Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, and IndiGo, had halted operations to destinations like Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Colombo. The absence of these routes significantly impacted overall international passenger numbers.

However, there is renewed optimism as India and China have reached an in-principle agreement to restore direct air services. Additionally, Chinese Consul General in Kolkata Xu Wei has confirmed ongoing efforts to resume pre-pandemic flight routes. If successful, these measures could bring back up to four daily international flights, potentially adding nearly 1,000 departing and 1,000 arriving passengers daily.

To further boost international connectivity, the airport, along with government and travel trade representatives, is planning to approach major international carriers like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, and KLM. Additionally, efforts are being made to convince Air India to launch direct flights from Kolkata to Europe, addressing a long-standing demand from travelers.

With expansion plans in progress and a focus on boosting international connectivity, the airport director is confident that passenger numbers will exceed expectations. According to projections, Kolkata airport is expected to reach a record 3.8 crore passengers by 2028-29, positioning it among the fastest-growing aviation hubs in India.