New Delhi, India: A new report by Knight Frank, forecasts a remarkable rise of almost 50% in India’s annual air passenger traffic over the next five years. Passenger numbers are projected to escalate from 412 million in FY25 to 600 million by FY30. According to the report, this substantial jump will drive a sharp increase in aeronautical revenues, driven by both higher passenger counts and enhanced spending per traveler. A major highlight of the analysis involves non-aeronautical revenue streams which include retail, food and beverage, duty-free shopping, parking, advertising, and real estate leasing. Airports operating under the public–private partnership (PPP) model are pivotal: while they handle 64% of India’s total air traffic, they generate a dominant 87% of the nation’s non-aero revenue. The report also spotlights the performance of India’s busiest airports, Mumbai Airport earns approximately USD 20.1 per passenger from non-aero sources. Delhi Airport closely trails with about USD 18.1 per passenger. These numbers are impressively close to global aviation giants like London Heathrow (USD 21.6) and Tokyo Haneda (USD 19.9). Knight Frank's analysis emphasizes that India’s airports are now at a strategic crossroads. With passenger volumes expected to soar to 600 million by FY30, financial sustainability will increasingly depend on diverse revenue models. The report urges airport developers and operators to move beyond traditional infrastructure approaches and adopt the concept of aerocities integrated commercial hubs encompassing retail, hospitality, leasing, and other services turning airports into urban growth engines, not just transit points. The projected surge in air travel offers both significant opportunities and challenges. Operators must balance capacity expansion with revenue diversification to ensure long-term resilience as passenger numbers climb.
Airports

India’s Air Passenger Traffic Expected to Reach 600M Annually by FY30, Says Report

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New Delhi, India:  A new report by Knight Frank, forecasts a remarkable rise of almost 50% in India’s annual air […]