Coimbatore airport registered 50% growth in passenger traffic

Non-metros prop up 46% air traffic growth

Domestic air traffic grew at an impressive 46% in 2006. While passenger traffic in metros grew by an average of 31%, smaller stations like Port Blair, Nagpur and Raipur registered traffic growth of 141.8%, 94.8% and 70.3%, respectively. According to Airports Authority of India data, of the top 45 airports, nine airports registered 50% growth in passenger traffic. These include Hyderabad, Pune, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Nagpur, Port Blair, Raipur, Ranchi and Jaipur. Surprisingly, two of the most popular tourism destinations—Udaipur and Jodhpur—recorded only 9.6% and 2.9% growth, respectively. The figures are more impressive for December 2006 over December 2005. Growth registered in Port Blair, Thiruvananthapuram, Mangalore and Nagpur for the period was 251.6%, 198.6%, 72.9% and 70.9%.

Among the four metros, Kolkata registered the highest growth of 39.5%, followed by Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai at 35%, 27.1% and 22.4%. According to industry sources, the significant increase in these passenger traffic numbers is not only due to lower fares offered by the low-cost airlines and the general dip in fares because of increased competition but also due to the increased frequency of operations in the existing sectors and connections to new sectors.

The total aircraft movements in the country increased to 779 from 620 in April to December 2006 over the corresponding period of 2005, a growth of almost 30%. Total passenger movement in the country increased 33%, with domestic traffic accounting for 41% of the growth and international traffic contributing only 15%In 2006, 303 new flights were started while 65 new sectors were added by all domestic airlines put together.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines topped the list with 84 new flights and 13 new sectors in 2006, Air Deccan connected 14 sectors with Pathankot, Hampi, Rajahmundry and Kandla being exclusively connected by the airline. Air Deccan also started 59 new flights, the second highest in 2006. Other carriers that accounted for over 30 new flights include SpiceJet, GoAir and Indigo Airlines. The newest airline and the 14 th scheduled airline, Indus Air, also started operations in 2006. With half a dozen or more applications (from Magic Air, Jagson, MDRL, and East West Airlines) in the wings, the numbers can only go northwards in 2007.

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