Ngp airport sees 12.24 lakh flyers in 2026 despite West Asia conflict: RTI

Nagpur: The city's Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport has recorded over 12.22 lakh passengers between January and May this year, according to an RTI reply issued by MIHAN India Ltd. The data has come as a positive beacon for Nagpur, highlighting steady air traffic movement despite geopolitical uncertainty caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict and a broader economic tightening influenced by calls for austerity by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.As per the RTI, the airport handled a total of 12.22 lakh passengers during the period, with 6.07 lakh arrivals and 6.15 lakh departures. The monthly trend shows relatively consistent traffic, with minor fluctuations across the first four months of the year. In January 2026, the airport recorded 2.86 lakh passengers, followed closely by 2.82 lakh in February. March saw a moderate decline to 2.62 lakh passengers, while April further dipped to 2.5 lakh passengers. Up to May 15, the airport registered 1.39 lakh passengers.Aviation observers note that the slight dip in March and April aligns with seasonal travel variations and possible adjustments in airline operations amid global fuel price volatility linked to West Asia tensions. Despite this, overall passenger demand has remained resilient, particularly in domestic sectors. The RTI also revealed non-scheduled air traffic activity at the airport. A total of 360 private aircraft and 183 helicopters landed at Nagpur airport between the same time frame.In terms of financial performance, MIHAN India Ltd reported total revenue of Rs74.86 crore during the same period. This includes aeronautical income of Rs1,743.13 lakh, User Development Fee collections of Rs4,444.47 lakh, cargo (royalty) income of Rs93.50 lakh, and non-aeronautical income of Rs1,204.88 lakh. The RTI further highlighted growth in cargo-related activity handled through MIHAN's cargo hub. The facility generated Rs4.80 crore from cargo (royalty) operations between January and mid-May. During this period, cargo movement included 1.235 metric tonnes of imports and 15.41 metric tonnes of exports.Ashish Kale, president of the Association of Industrial Development, said that the data has, in fact, proven that Nagpur should get more flights, not cancellations. "Nagpur is growing as an aero-hub faster than other centres. The airlines should take cognisance of the fact that a majority of flights fly at 90% and above occpuancy, and there is a rising demand for aviation facilities here," he said.