By Sameep Singh Gumtala, Published on June 6th, 2025 in News
FlyAmritsar Initiative Urges Support from Government
Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, has recorded its highest-ever annual and monthly passenger traffic in the financial year 2024–25, according to an analysis of data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). This milestone marks a major achievement in the airport’s history and reinforces its growing importance as Punjab’s premier international aviation hub.
The airport closed FY2024–25 with a record 3.54 million (35,42,880) passengers, reflecting a 14.8% increase over 3.08 million (30,85,598) passengers handled in FY2023–24. This figure includes both domestic and international travelers.
March 2025 Sets New Monthly Passenger Record
In March 2025 alone, the airport handled 3.43 lakh—231,756 domestic and 111,628 international—an 8.5% increase compared to 3.16 lakh passengers in March 2024. Domestic traffic rose by 6.6%, while international traffic grew by 12.8% year-over-year.
This March figure represents the highest-ever monthly total and domestic passenger traffic recorded in the airport’s operational history. It surpasses the previous record set in December 2024, which had 231,699 domestic and 340,408 total passengers.
Fewer Flights, More Passengers Per Aircraft
An interesting trend emerges when comparing aircraft movement data: while domestic passenger numbers increased, domestic aircraft movements decreased by 3.8%, from 1,487 in March 2024 to 1,430 in March 2025. This suggests higher load factors per flight, indicating improved operational efficiency on domestic routes.
🌏 Amritsar’s Growing Role as a Global Air Gateway
This sustained passenger growth underlines Amritsar’s rising profile as a major aviation hub in North India, not only serving a large catchment area within Punjab but also facilitating international connectivity for a significant number of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and tourists.
As of March 2025, Amritsar Airport is directly connected to 10 international destinations, including: Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Milan, Rome, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.
A significant share of domestic air travel to and from Delhi is composed of international transit passengers who ultimately arrive in or depart from Amritsar. This further strengthens the case for expanding direct international flight options to reduce unnecessary stopovers and improve passenger convenience.
🚌 Lack of Public Transport Still a Major Concern
However, despite these achievements, the airport continues to lack even basic public transport infrastructure. There is still no dedicated bus service connecting the airport to the city of Amritsar or to other key cities in Punjab.
Alarmingly, the Punjab state government appears more focused on promoting and expanding bus services to Delhi Airport, rather than investing in public transport to support its own international gateway in Amritsar.
This disconnect between the state’s transport priorities and the airport’s growing importance risks hindering further growth. Addressing this issue by introducing affordable and reliable public transport services to the airport must become a key priority for the Punjab government if it wishes to fully leverage Amritsar’s potential as an international aviation gateway.
