India’s alternate airports are forecasted to reach an annual capacity of 40 million passengers by year-end, rising to 45-50 million by fiscal 2030, as per Crisil Ratings. This growth is propelled by increasing demand and the necessity to alleviate congestion at older airports. With India’s total airport traffic expected to surge from 415 million to 580 million passengers by fiscal 2030, driven by economic activities and capacity expansion, the country’s airports are entering a pivotal growth phase.
Currently, the older airports like those in Mumbai and Delhi operate near their limits, with 87% utilisation last fiscal. They face expansion challenges due to spatial constraints. Meanwhile, alternate metro airports are predicted to handle 20-25% of regional traffic by 2030, highlighting their critical role in accommodating future demand and improving connectivity. Successfully leveraging these airports will require rapid enhancement of both aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues.
Despite a slowed growth rate of 0-1% this fiscal, impacted by recent operational disruptions, recovery to 6-7% growth is anticipated next year. Similar expansion opportunities exist in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where airport utilisation remains below capacity. These developments mirror global trends seen in cities like New York and London, where multiple airports thrive due to robust passenger growth.