In the calendar year 2023, the Mumbai-Mangaluru air route retained its status as the busiest for Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), with a substantial 5,52,767 passengers. Close behind was Bengaluru, with 5,52,500 passengers. Notably, Mumbai and Bengaluru sectors exhibited growth of 11.9% and 19.3%, respectively, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Aviation industry insiders project that Bengaluru will soon surpass Mumbai as the busiest route. Restrictions on the number of flights in the Mumbai sector contribute to this shift. A source from an airline carrier explained, “Traditionally, Mumbai has been the busiest air traffic route from Mangaluru due to the significant population from the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.”
Currently, MIA operates five daily flights to Mumbai. However, recent suggestions from the ministry aim to ease air traffic congestion at Mumbai airport, leading IndiGo to reduce its daily flights from MIA to Mumbai from four to three.
With the Bengaluru air sector witnessing growth in both passenger numbers and flight frequency, industry sources predict it will soon become MIA’s busiest route. There are no such restrictions on Bengaluru as seen in the Mumbai route. Presently, 10 flights operate daily, including six ATRs, and the remainder are 320 and 737 Max aircraft. With the upcoming summer schedule, the ATRs are expected to be replaced by 320 or 737 Max planes, likely resulting in increased passenger numbers.
Data from 2023 reveals a minimal difference of just 267 passengers between Bengaluru and Mumbai routes from Mangaluru. In 2022, Bengaluru recorded 4,63,131 passenger movements, a figure that rose to 5,52,500 in 2023. Additionally, Delhi has surpassed Hyderabad for the third spot, with a fourfold growth in passenger numbers, reaching 1,13,165 passengers in 2023, compared to 32,122 in the previous year. Pune also saw significant growth, with 47,579 passengers in 2023, compared to 19,333 in 2022.
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