The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here recorded the highest year-on-year passenger traffic growth of 22.5% among the top 100 airports worldwide in 2016.



The data, analysed by FlightGlobal, a portal that tracks international aviation trends, placed KIA ahead of the Bangkok-based Don Mueang International Airport (21.3%).



The FlightGlobal research indicated that airports in emerging markets led the way in passenger growth last year. “Airports in India and China were among the fastest growing in 2016. A strong recovery in the Indian market helped drive passenger numbers up more than a fifth at Delhi and Bengaluru, and by 10% at Mumbai,” stated the report published on Wednesday.



Among the top 100 airports listed on passenger traffic, frequency of flights and capacity, KIA was ranked 92, moving up from 110 in 2015. The Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta topped this list. The Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi was the top Indian airport with a rank of 21.



The research was based on preliminary traffic figures published by airports, which are in many cases reported on a terminal passenger basis. However, this excludes a small portion of transit passengers.



Worldwide, air passenger growth at leading hubs remained strong in 2016 as lower fuel costs and competition kept fares down. This, the report said, helped drive a 5.9% jump in traffic across the world’s 100 biggest airports, with the total surpassing four billion.



20th busiest route



In a related finding, an independent analysis showed that the Bengaluru-New Delhi route was among the 20th busiest worldwide for July 2017. It was also the most economical among the busiest 20, according to the portal, Bangalore Aviation.



The route cost an average base fare of Rs 4,830 or Rs 2.84 per kilometre for the 1,703 kilometre distance between the two airports, the analysis said. In comparison, it cost Rs 17.95 per kilometre, to fly between Japan’s Tokyo Haneda airport and Fukuoka airport.



DH News Service