Passenger traffic at Amritsar airport shows signs of recovery after May decline

Passenger traffic at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport rebounded to the three-lakh mark in November 2025, signalling a gradual recovery after a prolonged mid-year slump. According to monthly data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the airport handled 3,00,146 passengers in November, marginally higher than the 2,97,130 passengers recorded during the same month last year.

As per the data, total passenger traffic from January to November 2025 stood at 28.77 lakh, reflecting a decline of 6.7 per cent compared to 30.85 lakh passengers during the corresponding period in 2024. The overall decline can be traced to a significant setback beginning in May, when airport operations were disrupted due to the India-Pakistan conflict. The situation led to a temporary closure of the airport and prolonged cuts in both domestic and international flight frequencies during the peak summer season.

While the first four months of 2025 recorded strong year-on-year growth ranging between 7 and 19 per cent, May alone witnessed a steep 43 per cent drop in total passenger numbers. This decline was largely driven by a nearly 50 per cent fall in domestic traffic.

Passenger volumes remained below 2024 levels from June through October before stabilising in November. The recovery during November was supported by growth in both segments, with domestic passenger numbers rising from 2,01,125 to 2,04,087 and international passengers inching up from 96,005 to 96,059 compared to November last year.

However, aircraft movement data presents a contrasting picture. Between January and November 2025, total aircraft movements at the airport declined by 11.5 per cent year-on-year.

The analysis has been compiled by Sameep Singh Gumtala, convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, based on AAI’s official passenger traffic statistics. Gumtala noted that the increase in passenger numbers despite fewer flights points to improved load factors, with airlines operating fuller aircraft on reduced schedules.

International connectivity faced multiple disruptions during the year. Air India suspended its Amritsar-London Gatwick service in June following a Boeing 787-8 crash at Ahmedabad, resuming operations only in November. Italian carrier Neos Air suspended its Milan service from October, resulting in the loss of connectivity with Milan, Rome and Toronto. Additionally, AirAsia reduced and Batik Air suspended services on the Kuala Lumpur route, although AirAsia has since restored its four-times-a-week winter schedule.

Domestic operations were also affected, with airlines such as IndiGo cutting frequencies on several routes after May. Although services are gradually stabilising, domestic route frequencies and aircraft movements continue to remain well below last year’s levels.

The data further shows that March 2025 emerged as the busiest month ever for the airport, with 3,43,384 passengers, before operations were disrupted. Despite the November recovery, total passenger traffic for calendar year 2025 is unlikely to match or surpass the 34.25 lakh passengers recorded in 2024.

At present, Amritsar airport offers international connectivity to Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Birmingham, London Gatwick, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, while domestic destinations include Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Kullu.