Flights at Bhopal Airport Surpass Pre-Covid Levels, Ongoing Recovery, ET TravelWorld


Flights at Bhopal Airport Surpass Pre-Covid Levels, Ongoing Recovery, ET TravelWorld
Bhopal airport

The Raja Bhoj airport of Bhopal has experienced significant fluctuations in flight movements over the past seven years. The data reveals a growth, setbacks, and recovery, mirroring the broader trends in the air travel at Bhopal airport post Covid. Airport officials said that Bhopal airport will soon take over the pre-Covid situation flight movement levels.

Starting from 2017-18, Bhopal airport recorded a total of 7,205 flights. This number showed a steady increase in the following two years, reaching 8,860 in 2018-19 and then hitting a peak of 14,370 in 2019-20. The growth during this period can be attributed to various factors such as increased demand for air travel, expansion of airline networks, and overall economic growth in the region.

However, the year 2020-21 brought unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic. The global health crisis led to severe travel restrictions, lockdowns, and a drastic reduction in air travel demand. As a result, Bhopal airport saw a steep decline in flight movements, with only 5,672 flights recorded in that year. This significant drop of more than 60 per cent compared to the previous year highlights the profound impact of the pandemic on the aviation industry.

Flight delays impacted 11 lakh passengers this year till May

According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, flight delays disrupted the travel plans of 11 lakh passengers by May this year, costing airlines nearly Rs 13 crore in compensation. In 2023, 22.51 lakh passengers were affected, with over INR 26.53 crore spent. Various factors such as weather and technical issues contributed to these delays. Minister Murlidhar Mohol provided these insights.

As the world gradually started to recover from the pandemic, so did the air travel sector. In 2021-22, Bhopal airport witnessed the beginning of a recovery, with flight movements increasing to 9,473. This trend continued in the following years, with 12,350 flights in 2022-23 and 13,983 flights in 2023-24. The consistent growth in these years indicates a strong recovery and a return to pre-pandemic levels of air travel activity.”The recovery in flight movements at Bhopal airport can be attributed to several factors. Airlines have been quick to adapt to the changing market conditions, adjusting their routes and capacity to meet the recovering demand. The overall economic recovery, team effort, people centric policies and pent-up demand for travel have contributed to the growth in flight movements,” said director airport, Ramjee Awasthi.

However, it is important to note that the recovery is still an ongoing process, and the future trends will depend on various factors such as the evolution of the pandemic, government policies, and consumer behaviour.

Moreover, the growth in flight movements also highlights the importance of infrastructure development and capacity expansion at airports. As air travel demand continues to grow, airports like Bhopal will need to invest in upgrading their facilities, expanding runways, and improving passenger amenities to cater to the increasing number of flights and passengers.

  • Published On Jul 29, 2024 at 09:15 PM IST

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