Punjab Outlook

The FlyAmritsar Initiative, led by its Global Convener Sameep Singh Gumtala, has released a
comprehensive analysis of passenger traffic data for Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar.
The analysis is based on the Airport Authority of India’s (AAI) published data for March 2025 and confirms
that the financial year 2024–25 has been the most successful in the airport’s history.
According to Gumtala, Amritsar Airport closed the financial year FY2024-25 with a record 3.54 million
(35,42,880) passengers, a 14.8% increase over 3.08 million (30,85,598) in FY2023-24. This includes both
domestic and international travelers and marks a major milestone for Punjab’s primary international gateway.
In March 2025 alone, the airport handled 343,384 total passengers, comprising 231,756 domestic and 111,628
international travelers. This marks an 8.5% increase in total traffic compared to 316,495 passengers in March
2024. Domestic traffic rose by 6.6%, while international traffic grew by 12.8% compared to the same month
last year.
“This is the highest-ever monthly total and domestic passenger traffic recorded in the airport’s history,” said
Gumtala. It surpasses the previous record set in December 2024, when the airport handled 231,699 domestic
and 340,408 total passengers.
Gumtala also pointed out an interesting trend: despite the growth in domestic passengers in March 2025,
domestic aircraft movements decreased by 3.8%, from 1,487 in March 2024 to 1,430 this year. “This suggests
higher passenger loads per flight, reflecting increased operational efficiency on domestic routes,” he noted.
“This is a proud moment for Amritsar Airport and the region,” said Gumtala. “The consistent growth in
passenger footfall highlights Amritsar’s emerging role as a major air hub in Northern India—not only for
domestic traffic but for international connectivity as well.”
The airport is currently connected with 10 international destinations, including Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, London
Gatwick, Birmingham, Milan, Rome, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
“A large share of domestic traffic to and from Delhi is composed of international transit passengers bound for
Amritsar, reinforcing the need to expand direct international flight options,” he added.
Despite this continued growth, the airport still lacks basic public transport services by the Punjab government,
such as a dedicated bus connection to the city or other major cities in Punjab. Gumtala noted with concern that
instead of initiating this much-needed service, the state government seems more focused on promoting and
expanding bus connectivity from Punjab cities to Delhi Airport.