U.P. airports see sharp rise in passenger traffic: data

The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday (October 26, 2025) informed that between April and August this year, total passenger traffic at airports in the State increased by 14.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, with airports like Prayagraj, Agra, Gorakhpur and Varanasi witnessing sharp growth.

Between April and August 2025, airports in Uttar Pradesh recorded an increase of 14.6 per cent in passenger traffic compared to the same period last year (April-August 2024). During this period, U.P.’s share in India’s total air traffic rose to 3.52 per cent, showing a growth of 0.34 percentage points (34 basis points) over the previous year, according to an official statement.

A quarterly review for September 2025 shows travellers increased from 5.997 million in FY2016–17 to 14.228 million in FY2024–25, with domestic passengers numbering 12.929 million and international passengers 1.299 million.

Comparing April–August 2025 to the same period in 2024, the government data highlighted that total passengers rose from 5.238 million to 6.002 million. The increase in air passenger footfall shows U.P.’s rising national presence, particularly in domestic connectivity, the statement added.

“Domestic traffic grew 15.7 per cent (5.47 million passengers). International traffic rose 4.3% (0.532 million passengers). Airport-wise, Gorakhpur (63.0%) and Agra (63.2%) recorded the highest growth. In FY2024–25, there was a 25.9 per cent increase in passenger traffic,” the statement said.

The data shared by the government with The Hindu pointed towards sharp growth at airports in Varanasi (34.4%), Ayodhya (34.0%), and Prayagraj (76.4%), highlighting the impact of tourism and religious travel.