UP’s aviation sector under CM Yogi Adityanath records 14.6% growth in 2025, with booming air traffic, cargo handling, and new airports like Jewar

Uttar Pradesh is experiencing unparalleled expansion in its aviation industry under the direction of CM Yogi Adityanath, ushering in a new era of growth on the ground and in the air. In comparison to the same period last year, the number of passengers utilizing the state’s airports increased by 14.6% between April and August 2025, reaching 60.02 lakh (6 million).

During this period, the state’s proportion of India’s overall air traffic rose to 3.52%, which is 34 basis points higher than in 2024. This means that one out of every 30 passengers now originates from Uttar Pradesh.

Authorities credit this development to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “Connected UP, Prosperous UP” initiative, which seeks to connect all districts with cutting-edge transportation systems to increase employment, trade, and tourism. The construction of the Noida International Airport (Jewar) is anticipated to quicken this expansion and increase connection between Uttar Pradesh and its neighboring states.

Also read : Yogi Adityanath Calls Chhath Puja a Symbol of India’s Ancient Heritage

The number of passengers increased from 59.97 lakh in FY2016–17 to 1.42 crore (14.22 million) in FY2024–25, comprising 1.29 crore domestic and 13 lakh international passengers, representing a 10.1% compound annual growth rate. Within two years, UP doubled its passenger count, demonstrating one of the fastest recoveries in the country, despite the pandemic dip to 48.35 lakh in FY2020-21.

Air travel increased by 25.9% in FY2024–2025 alone when compared to FY2023–2024. Domestic traveler growth was 15.7% during the April–August period, while foreign traveler growth was 4.3%.

Contributing significantly to the increase have been religious tourism and regional connectivity. During FY2023–2024–2024–2025:

– As one of the fastest-growing airports in North India, Ayodhya Airport, which is dedicated to Maharshi Valmiki, saw a sharp increase in passengers from 2 lakh to 11 lakh.

– There was a 76.4% increase in Prayagraj, from 6 lakh to 10.77 lakh passengers.

– Traffic in Varanasi increased by 34.4%, from 30 lakh to 40 lakh passengers.

– Gorakhpur’s passenger count increased by 27.6% in FY2024–2025, reaching 8.67 lakh.

– There was a 13.3% growth in Kanpur and a 4.1% growth in Lucknow.

Airports in UP are also becoming important sites for export and trade. A CAGR of 19.1% was achieved in air cargo handling, which increased from 5,890 metric tonnes in FY2016–17 to a record 28,360 metric tonnes in FY2024–25.

-The airport in Lucknow handled 22,099 MT.

– The growth rate in Varanasi was 27.7%, and

– There was a fifty percent increase in Prayagraj.

Also read : Ayodhya Ram Mandir Update: Final Phase of Construction Now Finished

Total cargo increased 9.4% between FY2023–24 and FY2024–25, with large increases at Agra (247%) and Kanpur (165%) in April–August 2025. Due to UP’s increasing industrial and logistical might, the state’s percentage of India’s total air freight increased to 0.79 percent, one basis point higher than the previous year.

Director of UP Civil Aviation Ishan Pratap Singh claims that increased air connectivity is opening up new business, tourism, and investment opportunities. Airports in Jewar (Noida International Airport), Ayodhya, and Kushinagar are expanding quickly under the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The biggest aviation center in North India is expected to be Uttar Pradesh after Jewar Airport is open.