Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru has wrapped up calendar year 2025 on a strong note, recording its best-ever performance across passenger traffic, flight movements and cargo operations.

According to Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), the airport handled 43.82 million passengers in 2025, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous year. This growth reflects Bengaluru’s rising role as one of India’s busiest travel and business hubs.

Record-breaking passenger movement

KIA also created a new milestone by recording its highest-ever single-day passenger traffic of 1,37,317 travellers on November 23, 2025. The surge highlights the growing demand for both domestic and international travel to and from Bengaluru.

More flights, stronger connectivity

Air traffic movements (ATMs) at the airport also grew significantly. During the year, KIA recorded a peak of 837 flight movements in a single day on October 19, 2025, while the average daily ATMs stood at 765 flights.

In October 2025, Bengaluru Airport moved up from third to second position among Indian airports in terms of the number of domestic flights operated, underlining its growing importance in the country’s aviation network.

International travel on the rise

International connectivity from Bengaluru continued to strengthen. The airport saw a sharp rise in international departures, which increased from an average of 38 flights per day in 2024 to 51 flights per day in 2025. This led to a 28.7% year-on-year growth in international passenger traffic.

As of December 31, 2025, Bengaluru Airport was connected to 113 destinations worldwide, including 79 domestic and 34 international cities. The most popular domestic routes were Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune, while top international destinations included Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, London Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur.

Cargo operations cross 5.2 lakh tonnes

Cargo movement through the airport also witnessed steady growth. In 2025, KIA handled 5,20,985 tonnes of cargo, registering a 5 per cent increase over the previous year. The airport achieved another milestone by recording its highest-ever single-day cargo volume of 2,207 tonnes on August 7, 2025.

Currently, Bengaluru Airport is connected to 37 cargo destinations through 15 domestic and international cargo airlines.

Major export destinations include Chicago, Singapore, London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Leipzig, while key import hubs are Shenzhen, Shanghai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Growth in cargo volumes has been driven mainly by shipments of agri-perishables, pharmaceuticals, auto parts and spares, electric and electronic goods, and e-commerce products.

With rising passenger numbers, expanding international connectivity and steady cargo growth, Kempegowda International Airport continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s most important aviation gateways, supporting the city’s role as a global business, technology and trade hub.