Vijayawada: The international air passenger traffic at Andhra Pradesh airports, including Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, has witnessed a downward trend in May 2025 compared to the corresponding period in 2024. According to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) data, Visakhapatnam airport recorded a significant drop of 51.5% in international passenger traffic, with just 6,593 international passengers in May 2025 compared to 13,587 in May last year. Vijayawada airport saw a 10.5% decline, with 2,796 international passengers traveling to and from Gannavaram airport in May 2025, compared to 3,124 during the same period in 2024.The year-to-date (YTD) international air passenger traffic at Visakhapatnam airport in 2025-26 remains at 16,394 compared to 21,596 during the same period last year, marking a 24.1% drop. There was an 8.8% dip at Vijayawada airport, with 5,300 passengers traveling so far in the current financial year as against 5,812 in the 2024-25 period.The decline in international air passenger traffic can be attributed to the withdrawal of Bangkok and Malaysia flights by airline operators at the end of April 2025. Speaking to TOI, O Naresh Kumar, vice president of the AP Air Travellers Association (APATA), the removal of these two services directly impacted the air passenger traffic at the airport. However, with new international services to Abu Dhabi commencing from Visakhapatnam, there is hope for a slight increase in international air passengers.In contrast, the domestic air passenger traffic witnessed a significant increase from 4.27 lakh passengers in May last year to 5.40 lakh passengers in May this year, with 5,420 aircraft movements. Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram, and Kadapa airports witnessed nearly a 50% increase in domestic air passenger traffic during May 2025 compared to May 2024.According to AAI, the international aircraft movement at Visakhapatnam airport stood at 42 for May 2025, showing a significant 53.8% drop, while it was 91 in May 2024. Similarly, the international aircraft movement at Vijayawada airport stood at 18 in May 2025, while it was 20 in May 2024.Although Andhra Pradesh has Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupati as three international airports, international services are operated only at Visakhapatnam Airport and Vijayawada Airport, accounting for just one standalone bi-weekly service between Vijayawada and Sharjah.Domestic passenger traffic data:Tirupati airport saw passneger traffic of 1.06 lakh in May 2025, a 53.7% increase from 69,117 in May 2024Kadapa reported 4,088 passengers in May last year and it eventually went up to 6,094 in May this year, which is a 49.1% riseRajamahendravaram saw 36,523 domestic passengers in May last, and it eventually went up to 54,963 during the same time this year
