Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru, crosses the 400 million passenger milestone since its Airport Opening Day (AOD), in April, 2026.

The airport also registered a strong growth in the financial year 2025-26, driven by international traffic, even amidst the West Asia crisis this year. The KIA handled 44.47 million passengers and 5,32,000 tonnes of cargo in the 2025-26 financial year. 

International traffic drives growth

Surprisingly, in a year marred by multiple “geo-political headwinds” the growth at the KIA was driven by international passengers. International traffic increased by 23.9% to 7.23 million passengers, while domestic traffic grew by 3.3% to 37.24 million passengers, taking the overall passenger traffic up by 6.2% year-on-year. “This sustained growth despite geopolitical headwinds reflects Bengaluru’s increasing global relevance as a business and innovation hub,” the KIA said in a statement on Saturday.

The airport offers global connectivity with non-stop flights to over 78 domestic and 34 international destinations. The KIA said that operational performance also scaled up at the airport in line with the growth in traffic during the financial year 2025-26. While the airport recorded a total of 2,80,800 air traffic movements, a 4.5%year-on-year increase, average daily movements stood at 769, with a peak of 837 movements in a single day.

The passenger traffic also reached a record high, with 1,39,111 passengers handled in a single day in the financial year 2025-26, the KIA said.

Perishables drive cargo growth 

Cargo business maintained a “steady” growth of 6% year-on-year handling a total of 5,32,000 tonnes in 2025-26, the KIA said.

“Perishables continued to anchor this growth, with the KIA retaining its position as India’s leading gateway for perishable exports for the fifth consecutive year. The airport handled around 60 million rose stems during the year, with volumes up 38% and tonnage rising 64%, compared to last year. Mango exports grew 12% to a five-year high, while coriander volumes increased 13% year-on-year,” the KIA said in a statement.

“Demand was further driven by a mix of pharma, autoparts, spare parts, electric and electronics goods and e-commerce,” it added. 

The airport runs 15 cargo airlines operating across 38 destinations connecting Bengaluru to key global hubs including Chicago, Singapore, London, Frankfurt, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

“As demand continues to evolve, the airport will focus on deepening global linkages, expanding capacity, and building a future-ready ecosystem,” the statement noted.