Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar takes off strongly

Lokmat News Network

Raj Patil

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

City airport is now Maharashtra’s fourth-busiest, trailing only Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, as passenger traffic soars past rival cities like Shirdi in 2025.

As the EV capital, the city’s airport overtook Shirdi and other cities in 2025. According to Airports Authority of India (AAI), IXU handled 5,402 flight movements, 6.38 lakh passengers, and 1,266 metric tonnes of domestic cargo. March recorded the highest flights and 58,347 passengers. IndiGo flight cancellations had minimal impact, as Air India’s extra daily Delhi flights absorbed demand. Domestic passenger cargo grew nearly 53% year-on-year. Increased inspections and bureaucratic visits last year drove traffic growth, surpassing Shirdi Airport. Sustained demand has prompted airlines to add flights, including daily Bengaluru services and resuming Jaipur- Ahmedabad routes. While flight numbers remain limited in some regions, cargo levels matched previous highs, reflecting steady growth and rising connectivity in the city.

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More flights, more passengers

Airport sources say rising flight frequency will boost passenger numbers and connect tier-one cities. Dedicated cargo operations will set to begin, enhancing connectivity and supporting local economy growth.

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Aircraft movements and passenger growth

Year/ Aircraft Movements /Passenger Footfall

2025/5402/638,895/1266

2024/6741/695,174

2023/5687/603,473

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Passanger cargo growth set to soar

Year/ Passanger Cargo (Metric tons)

2026/ 1,800 (projected)

2025/ 1,266

2024/ 827.7

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Call for more regional flights

We need stronger flight connectivity to the eastern and western regions, as the current number of flights operating from here is limited. Earlier, we had direct connectivity to Udaipur, but that service is no longer operational. Despite this, passenger demand and air traffic potential remain strong. With the existing infrastructure and facilities in place, we are fully capable of supporting additional flights, provided operational constraints are addressed.

- Sharad Yeole, airport director, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport

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Cargo boost for farmers

I have observed that cargo movement this year has reached levels comparable to 2018. Yet, farmers continue to face transport challenges. Most depend on roadways due to lower costs, while high air freight rates and railway delays reduce the shelf life of perishables. I believe implementing the Kisan Udan scheme and dedicated Kisan cargo services here will strengthen farmer sustainability and market access.

- Abhay Chabukswar, Team Member, Airport Aviation Group