Ahmedabad Airport Announces Major Summer Expansion with 25% International Flight Increase
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad is gearing up for a significant summer schedule expansion, marked by a sharp 25% rise in international flight movements and a 30% increase in cargo operations. This robust growth underscores sustained momentum in both passenger and freight traffic at the Gujarat hub.
Driving Forces Behind the Expansion
The expansion is fueled by a combination of new airline entries and frequency additions. International connectivity is set to surge, outpacing the 6% growth in domestic operations. New entrants include SriLankan Airlines and FitsAir, which will operate services to Colombo, while Azerbaijan Airlines is launching flights to Baku. On the domestic front, incremental growth is expected with new and proposed routes to cities like Hisar in Haryana and Jalgaon in Maharashtra.
Enhanced Flight and Cargo Operations
With the expanded schedule, the airport will handle approximately 1,700 weekly domestic departures and about 380 international departures. Cargo departures will rise to 45 weekly from 36 earlier. The total number of airlines operating from Ahmedabad will increase to 31, including 23 international carriers, connecting the city to 30 domestic and 19 international destinations.
Airlines Ramping Up Frequencies and Routes
Airlines are actively enhancing their services:
- IndiGo is increasing frequencies to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Pune, while adding Nanded to its network. It is also set to launch flights to Doha and Phuket.
- SpiceJet is boosting frequencies on routes such as Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh, and preparing to start services to Jeddah with additional frequencies on the Najaf route.
- Regional carriers like Alliance Air are planning operations to Hisar and Jalgaon, and Star Air will connect Ahmedabad with Diu and Nanded.
- Air India is expected to strengthen its Ahmedabad-London Gatwick service, currently operating five times a week.
Cargo Traffic as a Key Growth Driver
Cargo operations are emerging as a pivotal growth area, with a 30% rise in movements. The airport currently handles cargo linked to major global and domestic operators, including Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, and Blue Dart Aviation, highlighting its expanding role in freight logistics.
This comprehensive expansion reflects Ahmedabad's growing importance as an aviation and trade hub, poised to cater to increasing demand in the summer season and beyond.
