The Hindu Business Line : H1 air passenger traffic posts 27% growth

New Delhi, Sept 21 The Government decision to allow more foreign airlines to operate flights to India as also the advent of low-cost airlines has seen airports in India record a more than 27 per cent growth in passengers handled during the first six-months of the year as compared to the same period in the previous year, according to the latest data collated by Airports Authority of India.

During the period, the airports handled more than 5.5 crore passengers up from 4.3 crore passengers handled during January-June last year.

While there was a growth of more than 32 per cent in the number of domestic passengers at 4.17 crore up from 3.15 crore during January-June 2006, the rise in international passengers grew by more than 16 per cent to touch 1.41 crore during January-June this year (1.21 crore).

The data shows that the airports that have seen an increase in total passenger traffic during the six-month period ending June this year include Bangalore, Mangalore, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram.

In the recent past, the Government has been liberal in allowing international airlines to operate flights around the country.

New flights

This has seen a number of airlines including the newly launched low-cost airlines from Sharjah, Air Arabia launching flights to Thiruvananthapuram, Mihin Lanka launched flights to Tiruchi and the Bangkok-based low-cost airline, Nok Air, launch flights to Bangalore. In addition, Etihad Airways, the Abu-Dhabi-based full service airline, has increased frequency of flights to India as has the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines.