Kannur International Airport Limited has reported a strong rebound in passenger numbers following a sharp decline earlier this year due to the geopolitical situation in West Asia.
The airport handled a record 1.5 million passengers in 2025, marking a 16 percent increase from the previous year. Operations faced disruption from the West Asia conflict, with international traffic dropping 92 percent year on year in March 2026.
Recovery began in the following months. International passenger traffic rose 19 percent in April, 45 percent in May, and 65 percent in June. By July, nearly 95 percent of scheduled flights had resumed, mainly to Gulf destinations served by Air India Express and IndiGo.
Managing Director Dinesh Kumar stated that the airport’s long-term fundamentals remained strong. He highlighted the trust from people in North Kerala and the expatriate community, noting several development initiatives in the pipeline.