Mumbai Airport Reports 4% Growth in Passenger Traffic for October 2024

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai experienced a 4% rise in passenger traffic during October 2024, handling 4.42 million passengers compared to 4.25 million in the same period last year. The growth was largely driven by increased international travel during the festive season.

Domestic and International Traffic Trends

Domestic passenger numbers showed a modest increase, reaching 3.16 million in October 2024, up from 3.11 million in October 2023. The international segment, however, saw more robust growth, with passenger numbers rising to 1.25 million from 1.14 million the previous year.

Air traffic movements (ATMs) reflected mixed trends. Domestic ATMs fell from 21,349 in October 2023 to 19,848 in October 2024, while international ATMs increased slightly, reaching 7,222 from 7,110 during the same period.

Busiest Day in October

The busiest day at CSMIA in October 2024 was on the 26th, with the airport handling 939 flights and 1,58,667 passengers. This surpassed the busiest day in October 2023, which saw 148,014 passengers on October 2nd.

Top Destinations

For domestic travel, Delhi, Bangalore, and Goa remained the most popular destinations. The Mumbai-Delhi route continued its strong performance, with 0.58 million passengers in October 2024, up from 0.55 million the previous year. This route has consistently shown robust growth, having recorded a 22% increase in October 2023 compared to October 2022.

On the international front, Dubai, London, and Abu Dhabi maintained their positions as the most traveled destinations. The Middle East accounted for 51% of Mumbai’s international traffic in October 2024, followed by Asia at 23% and Europe at 17%. London saw a further boost in passenger numbers with Virgin Atlantic launching a second daily flight to the city in October 2024.

Enhanced International Connectivity

New and expanded international routes contributed significantly to the growth in international traffic. In October 2024, Nok Air inaugurated its Mumbai-Don Mueang route to Thailand, while Virgin Atlantic increased its flights to London. This followed 2023’s route expansions, which included Uganda Airlines Mumbai-Entebbe service, Air Canada’s resumed Mumbai-London-Toronto route, and SpiceJet’s reintroduction of its Bangkok connection.

With sustained growth in passenger traffic and the introduction of new international routes, Mumbai airport continues to strengthen its position as a key hub for both domestic and international travel.

Source – Indian Express