Aviation growth story piggybacking on foreign travel: AAI report
NEW DELHI: The growing desire for international travel continues to fuel Indias aviation growth story. According to the latest data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the first half of the current financial year, foreign travel has surged by nearly 7% compared to the same period last year. The Air Traffic Report, made public on Wednesday, shows that 3.95 crore passengers travelled abroad from India between April and September 2025, up from 3.69 crore during the same period in 2024. Overall passenger traffic grew by 2.6%, with 20.21 crore people flying in the six-month period this year compared to 19.69 crore last year. Domestic air travel recorded a modest 1.6% increase, with 16.25 crore passengers this year versus 15.99 crore in the previous fiscal period. The total Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) arrivals plus departures rose by 2.8%, reaching 15.77 lakh in AprilSeptember 2025 compared to 15.35 lakh last year. Thanks to airlines regularly announcing new international routes, several relatively smaller airports such as Surat, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Jaipur, Varanasi, Mangaluru, Kannur, Bagdogra, Pune, Indore, and Udaipur have registered strong double-digit growth in international passenger traffic. Among them, Bagdogra and Coimbatore posted remarkable increases of 51% (13,492 flyers) and 50.5% (1,60,597 flyers), respectively, in AprilSeptember 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Among major airports, Bengaluru recorded an impressive 28.9% surge in international traffic, handling 34,58,308 passengers in the first half of the current financial year. Hyderabad showed substantial growth of 19%, while Mumbai registered a 5.6% increase. Delhi, however, saw a slight 0.5% decline. Domestic Travel Trends Sindhudurg Airport reported the highest growth in domestic passenger traffic, with an 84.1% increase and 21,936 flyers over the previous financial year. Other airports that recorded notable growth include Kishangarh (65.7%, 59,421 flyers), Darbhanga (64.3%, 3,86,174), Gorakhpur (57.5%, 5,62,596), Cuddapah (53.9%, 33,973), and Pithoragarh (56.5%, 8,215). Airports such as Tiruchirappalli (55.6%), Tirupati (42.9%), Jeypore (42.1%), Bilaspur (38.1%), Rajahmundry (33.7%), and Kurnool (22.9%) also posted impressive domestic growth figures. Among major airports, both Delhi and Mumbai reported negative growth in domestic travel. The closure of Terminal 2 at IGIA and changes in flight schedules significantly impacted Delhis numbers, which dropped by 5.8% to 2,64,91,445 passengers, compared to 2,81,07,645 last year. Mumbai saw a 0.8% dip, handling 1,91,02,987 passengers. Meanwhile, Hyderabad registered strong domestic growth of 11.3% with 1,26,64,800 flyers, while Chennai saw a 5.1% increase with 83,79,339 passengers.
SWR runs 136 special trains with 540 extra coaches to manage Deepavali travel rush
BENGALURU: A comprehensive analysis of travel patterns and wait list trends helped the Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway (SWR) chalk out a massive plan to handle the Deepavali and Chhath Pooja rush as well as the long-weekend crowd. Based on the analysis, SWR is running 136 special trains (338 trips), 540 additional coaches, enhanced security, help desks, medical teams, and improved passenger guidance across major stations in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Hubballi divisions. The division undertook an exercise on war-footing to identify train requirements, ensure timely maintenance and plan services to meet passenger demand effectively. The effort has resulted in the operation of over 95 special trains this Deepavali seasonmore than double the 36 run last year. Trains have been deployed in all directions, covering destinations across Karnataka including Belagavi, Hubballi, Bidar, Karwar, Mysuru, and Vijayapura. Services were also optimized for heavy weekend rushes towards Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including Chennai, Kollam, and Tiruchirappalli, SWR added. SWR also stated that recognizing long-distance travel needs, 20 trains have been operated to Patna and Danapur, with additional services to Gomtinagar, Rishikesh, Howrah, Santragachi, Tinsukia, and Narangi. Special trains have also been notified to Narsapur, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, and Bilaspur. To ensure safe travel, SWR has rolled out 136 special trains covering 338 trips and added 540 extra coaches across regular services. At major terminalsSMVT Bengaluru, KSR Bengaluru, Yesvantpur, and Krishnarajapuramexclusive holding areas have been created with enhanced security, information counters, drinking water, seating, and live train updates via speaker systems and TV screens.
Vijay Puts Off Public Meets For Two Weeks
Vijay had been holding public interactions every Saturday, touring Tiruchirappalli, Namakkal, and Karur as part of the outreach. The September 27 Karur rally turned tragic when a stampede broke out, leaving 41 people dead and more than 60 injured.
Shoes, poles and garbage: Karur's telltale signs of celebration turning into mourning
KARUR: Mounds of shoes and chappals, crushed water bottles, torn party flags, pieces of clothes, broken poles, shreds of paper sprayed from party poppers and striking garbage of sorts. As early morning walkers and people who ventured out to buy milk and essentials crossed the venue of the mega rally --an arterial road-- addressed by TVK chief Vijay, they could not make sense of what had happened on the previous night. Several people, who went to sleep early or did not listen to the news, were shocked that as many as 39 people were killed and dozens were injured. While some videographers were filming the spot of the stampede, now barricaded by 'Police-Do Not Cross' kind of lengthy tapes and blocked to the public, groups of elderly men enquired with photo-journalists present there in disbelief about the stampede. While a TVK flag still flutters atop a high-rise pole at the spot and oversized-speaker boxes and mega lights lying unattended amid a huge pile of torn party publicity material like posters, TVK workers and office-bearers do not wish to say anything about what went wrong in their plan. A young man, who was among the crowd at the stampede spot, and who managed to safely get out of that spot after much struggle, claimed that several people were pushed to a 'low-lying sewerage' close to the road margin as many tried to get out at the same time. He regretted that what began as a 'celebration time' to hail their beloved matinee idol ended in tragedy. As fans were chanting Vijay's name, several did not realise that it was a stampede and that people fell down. Many who happened to place their legs on people who fell down also got tripped and fell, he told reporters. Stampede at TVK president & actor #Vijay 's campaign in #Karur : List of 34 deceased persons who have been identified so far. @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/Ib7gHYzcXm S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) September 28, 2025 Uncontrollable crowds and poor event management caused Karur stampede; warnings from earlier rallies ignored Several people had their own claims about the cause of the stampede, and it is not clear what went wrong; whether it was the choice of the venue or overcrowding, which has been witnessed ever since Vijay launched his state-wide tour on September 13. At the venue, people pushed away tin sheets used to barricade and make enclosure kind of spaces, and many who climbed onto thatched roof structures nearby fell down and sustained injuries. Almost at the same time, police baton-charged to control the situation. However, people, including children, who were caught in the crowd and fell down, could not comprehend what was happening. A senior citizen in his 70s said he has never seen so many people getting killed in a stampede at a political party's event and blamed the youths for their anxiety to somehow take a look at the actor. Staff at the Karur government hospital themselves were rattled by the unceasing siren of ambulances bringing injured people, and policemen pitched in by carrying the victims to the treatment ward. Families who lost their children could not just believe that they had lost their loved little ones and were inconsolable. The visuals of young men and women crying while holding their motionless children shook hearts. 'I was choking': Survivors relive Karur stampede horror from hospital beds In this unfortunate incident, 39 deaths have been reported, including 17 women, 13 men, 4 male children, and 5 female children. The postmortem has been done for 30 (out of 39 deceased) and the bodies have been handed over to their families, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary P Senthil Kumar told reporters after visiting the patients at the GH. At the mortuary, the kin of the deceased wailed through the night, and the sound of the piercing sobs could be heard from afar, even close to the entrance of the premises. Also, police repeated a lathi-charge nearly an hour after the stampede to chase away the remaining crowds from the venue. Following the stampede, Vijay left the venue and did not meet reporters waiting at Tiruchirappalli and Chennai airports. My heart has broken, I am in unbearable, inexplicable pain and grief, he said in a social media post . The actor added that he prayed for the speedy recovery of those being treated in hospitals. He extended his sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters killed in Karur. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin rushed from Chennai to Karur and interacted with doctors on the treatment being provided to the affected people, comforted them, and assured them of the best care. The CM reached Karur from Chennai past midnight. Authorities announced helpline numbers to reach the Karur district collect office helpdesk (04324 256306 and WhatsApp 7010806322).
Kickstarting Statewide Tour from Trichy, Vijay Attacks DMK, Promises Change
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay launched his much-anticipated statewide political tour in Tiruchirappalli on Saturday, kickstarting what is being seen as his first major step toward the 2026 Assembly elections.
TVK chief, actor-politician Vijay's first poll campaign address lost in audio glitch
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay addressed a rally in Tiruchirappalli. Audio problems plagued his 20-minute speech. Supporters chanted his name amidst the unclear address. Vijay questioned the DMK government's unfulfilled promises from the 2021 election. He criticized the DMK regime regarding an illegal kidney sale racket. Vijay highlighted Tiruchirappalli's historical significance in Dravidian politics.
Tiruchirappalli: Vijay Receives Warm Welcome Ahead of Poll Campaign
Enthusiastic TVK workers, carrying party flags, pushed away barricades on the airport premises at several spots to get a glimpse of their leader
TVK chief Vijay to kickstart 'I am coming' Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign
Actor-politician Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is set to launch his 'I am coming' state-wide campaign in Tiruchirappalli on Saturday, aiming for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. He is expected to criticize the ruling DMK and BJP, using a custom-built campaign vehicle featuring iconic leaders and the slogan I am coming.
Amit Shah Introduces Fast-Track Immigration At Various Airport Virtually
On Thursday, Shah launched in Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Kozhikode and Amritsar. The program will eventually be launched at 21 major airports.
BIAL subsidiary opens OVetra lounge at Tiruchirappalli International Airport
PM Modi Attends Chola Emperors Birth Anniversary Event, Holds Massive Roadshow In Tamil Nadu
Ahead of the event, PM Modi held a roadshow in Tiruchirappalli, where thousands of people gathered to catch a glimpse of him and welcomed him with a shower of flower petals.
PM Modi holds massive roadshow in Tamil Nadus Tiruchirappalli; showered with flowers
Prime Minister Modi holds roadshow in Tiruchirappalli
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Tamil Nadu culminated in a roadshow in Tiruchirappalli and participation in the commemoration of 1,000 years since Rajendra Chola I's maritime expedition. He also marked the commencement of construction at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, releasing a commemorative coin honoring the emperor and paying tribute to Kargil war heroes during his visit.
PM Modi receives warm welcome from public in Tamil Nadu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome in Tiruchirappalli on Sunday, en route to Ariyalur district for an official event. A large gathering of party supporters and the public lined the roads, showering flower petals and waving at the Prime Minister's vehicle as he passed by.
International air travel sees 5 per cent surge in May 2025; Domestic traffic also grow
NEW DELHI: Air passenger traffic in the country continues its growth trajectory month-on-month, with a 3 per cent increase in overall passengers in May 2025 compared to May 2024. Data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) reveals a higher demand for international travel, with a 5% increase recorded during the same period. The Air Traffic Report for May, made public by AAI, reveals that 6.76 million passengers flew abroad compared to 6.44 million last year. They form part of the 35.38 million who travelled in May 2025, compared to 34.34 million in May 2024. Air Traffic Movements (flight arrivals and departures) recorded a 5.9 per cent increase, with 2.78 crore movements in May this year compared to 2.63 crore in May last year. A total of 67,62,343 people opted to fly abroad in May 2025, versus 64,41,392 during the same month last year. Relatively smaller airports, compared to the top five, are showing a significant surge in demand for international travel. Goa recorded a nearly 300 per cent surge in international flyers, with 26,211 passengers in May 2025 compared to May 2024. In terms of percentage, Pune followed with a high growth of 85 per cent (34,388 flyers) during the same period. Coimbatore Airport, with 28,809 flyers, registered a 48.4 per cent increase in patronage over the previous year. Mangaluru and Surat saw a 35.1 per cent increase, with 62,159 and 18,790 flyers respectively in May this year. Similarly, Kannur Airport, with 1,00,993 international flyers, and Nagpur, with 10,471 flyers, each recorded a 20.7 per cent increase over their previous figures. The boom in international travel from Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) continued, with 6,05,742 flyers in May this year, up by a significant 25 per cent over the same month last year. In comparison, other major airports like Mumbai (13,42,584 flyers) and Delhi (17,04,549 flyers) recorded single-digit growths of 2.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively, over their May 2024 figures. Hyderabad recorded a healthy 11.2 per cent increase with 4,52,243 flyers. Domestic front data On the domestic front as well, relatively smaller airports showed strong growth in May 2025 over May 2024. Jharsuguda recorded 40,808 flyers (a 92.2% increase), Jabalpur 46,924 flyers (90.3%), Gorakhpur 1,00,404 flyers (87.5%), Shivamogga 14,104 flyers (80.6%), Agra 22,521 flyers (77.2%), Kanpur 35,720 flyers (58%), Tirupati 1,06,200 flyers (a 53.7% increase), Rajahmundry 54,963 flyers (50.5%), Tiruchirappalli 74,343 flyers (46.5%), Kannur 46,923 flyers (49.6%), Patna 4,07,993 flyers (34.6%), and Bhuj 18,861 flyers (30.8%).
