Thiruvananthapuram International Airport witnessed a significant shift in its passenger traffic for the year 2025. The airport managed to handle a total of 40 lakh passengers, encompassing both international and domestic travellers. This figure marks a notable decrease compared to the previous year's footfall of 48.9 lakh passengers.
Key Factors Behind the Passenger Traffic Decline
The primary reasons for this downturn were twofold. First, a mandatory runway closure for re-carpeting work significantly impacted operations. Second, the festive month of December, typically a peak travel season, saw numerous domestic flight cancellations by airlines, notably IndiGo. This led to a sharp increase in airfares, deterring many potential travellers, especially those planning domestic trips for Christmas and New Year.
Consequently, while international movements showed improvement, the overall numbers suffered due to a considerable decrease in domestic passengers, who traditionally form the bulk of the airport's users. Officials confirmed that the airport experienced its highest single-day activity on December 30, handling 97 flights and 16,133 passengers.
Silver Linings and International Growth
Despite the overall annual decline, the international sector presented a brighter picture. The airport successfully enhanced its global connectivity by introducing 14 new international routes and increasing flight frequency on existing ones. This strategic expansion bore fruit, with August 2025 recording the highest international passenger count of 2.25 lakh. Furthermore, December saw the maximum number of scheduled international flights for the year.
Airport authorities remain hopeful for a recovery in passenger traffic in the coming months. This optimism stems from the new international connections and the completion of runway work, which is expected to restore full operational capacity.
Industry Calls for Enhanced Connectivity
The need for better air links was strongly emphasized by local business leaders. S N Raghuchandran Nair of the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce highlighted several crucial routes where connectivity is lacking. He pointed out the demand for more flights to major metros like Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
Specifically, he advocated for the establishment of flight services on sectors such as Thiruvananthapuram–Kochi–Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram–Calicut–Bengaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram–Madurai–Chennai. He expressed surprise at the absence of direct flights to Calicut and noted that airlines are hesitant to operate intra-state flights, possibly due to competition from Vande Bharat train services.
Nair also urged for the restoration of the popular Thiruvananthapuram–Kochi–Delhi flight. In the international arena, he identified a growing demand for full-service flights to Singapore, driven by an increase in business class travel. This trend indicates an opportunity for airlines to cater to a premium segment of travellers from the region.
