Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru has announced plans to expand its international connectivity, add capacity, and deepen airline partnerships in 2026 after closing calendar year 2025 with higher passenger volumes and steady cargo growth. The airport operator said the focus will remain on scaling both passenger and cargo operations while supporting wider network expansion.

Total passenger traffic at the airport reached 43.82 million in 2025, up from 40.73 million in 2024. During the year, the airport recorded its highest-ever single-day passenger movement of 1,37,317 travellers on 23 November 2025. Aircraft movements also remained strong, with daily movements peaking at 837 in October and averaging 765 across the year.

A key development in 2025 was the airport’s shift from third to second position nationally in terms of domestic flights operated during October. International traffic showed the strongest growth, with average daily international departures increasing from 38 in 2024 to 51 in 2025. This led to a 28.7% year-on-year rise in international passenger traffic.

Over the year, the airport added five new domestic and five new international routes. Domestically, new connections included Hindon, Bidar, Jaisalmer, Silchar and Navi Mumbai. On the international front, new routes were launched to Dammam, Ho Chi Minh City, Krabi, Hanoi and Riyadh.

Commenting on the performance, Girish Nair, Chief Operating Officer, BIAL, said, “2025 was a demanding year for India’s aviation sector and BLR Airport was no exception. What distinguished the year for us was a disciplined and resilient response, maintaining operational stability, supporting our airline partners, and strengthening network connectivity. As the year progressed, we responsibly and strategically scaled both passenger and cargo operations, with a clear focus on future readiness. This growth reflects not only rising demand but also the trust and confidence airlines and travellers place in BLR Airport as the ‘New Gateway to India’, a critical hub enabling Bengaluru’s emergence as a leading global city.”

As of 31 December 2025, the airport was connected to 113 destinations, including 79 domestic and 34 international locations. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune were the top domestic destinations, while Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, London Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur emerged as the leading international routes.

Airlines continued to expand their presence at the airport through 2025. Air India Express increased operations, IndiGo added new international services, and Akasa Air launched flights to Phuket and Jeddah. VietJet and Vietnam Airlines entered the Bengaluru network, while Lufthansa, KLM, Japan Airlines and Virgin Atlantic increased frequencies on long-haul routes.

Cargo operations also posted growth during the year, with volumes reaching 520,985 metric tonnes, a 5% increase compared with 2024. The airport recorded its highest single-day cargo throughput of 2,207 metric tonnes on 7 August 2025. It is now connected to 37 cargo destinations served by 15 cargo airlines, with shipments led by agri-perishables, pharmaceuticals, auto parts, electronics and e-commerce goods.

To support this growth, additional cargo infrastructure became operational during the year, including a new domestic cargo terminal developed by Menzies Aviation and the AISATS BLR Logistics Park, which added fresh warehousing capacity.

Looking ahead to 2026, the airport operator said international traffic and cargo demand are expected to remain key growth drivers as new routes and increased frequencies are added. The planned expansion is aimed at reinforcing Kempegowda International Airport’s position as one of India’s leading aviation hubs.