Bengaluru: The monthly passenger numbers at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) have crossed 1 million for the first time after domestic flights were restarted on May 25. The milestone was achieved in October.
But the figures are nowhere near the levels recorded during the same festive period last year. In October 2019, when flight operations were normal, Bengaluru airport saw over 23 lakh domestic passengers.
Commercial air travel was suspended across the country on March 25 this year as the coronavirus pandemic unfolded. After resumption of domestic operations with new health-safety rules in May-end, the passenger traffic took a couple of months to pick up. In September, it crossed 8 lakh and last month, it hit 11.1 lakh, according to data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Aircraft movement in October was 10,775. The October figure for international passengers was 31,446 as against 3.9 lakh seen during the same period last year.
Industry experts say the signs are encouraging as more people are feeling confident about taking a flight. The month-wise statistics of domestic passenger travel at KIA show a steady rise in numbers from July.
22/11/20 Petlee Peter/Times of India
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