Prayagraj Airport has undergone a remarkable transformation, handling over 100 flights daily-a sevenfold increase from its previous 16 flights per day before Mahakumbh-2025.

This surge in air traffic has resulted in new records for the airport, with February 16 marking the highest single-day footfall in its history, as it managed 20,297 passengers. This broke the previous record set on February 15, when the airport handled the same number of flights but with 19,822 passengers, according to airport officials.

The spike in air traffic is attributed to the massive influx of pilgrims arriving for the grand religious gathering. Official data reveals that on February 16, 10,152 passengers arrived on 60 flights, while 10,145 departed on another 60 flights. On February 15, 10,300 passengers landed, and 9,522 passengers took off.

Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16, 2018, and the launch of flight operations in January 2019, the airport has rapidly expanded its capacity. Between February 1 and 16, 2025, the airport handled 214,593 passengers across 1,288 flights, averaging 13,412 passengers daily and 81 flights per day. On February 13, the airport set a record of 16,310 passengers on 96 flights, before surpassing it with 20,297 passengers on February 16. On January 13, the opening day of Mahakumbh-2025, the airport managed 33 flights carrying 4,252 passengers, and by January 28, traffic had nearly doubled to 8,378 passengers on 56 flights. From January 13 to February 16, the airport accommodated 312,536 passengers on 1,974 flights, averaging 8,929 passengers and 57 flights daily.

To meet the surge in demand, Prayagraj Airport has undergone significant infrastructure upgrades. The terminal area was expanded from 6,700 square meters to 25,500 square meters, allowing the airport to handle 1,080 passengers during peak hours.

A new terminal building was added to accommodate an additional 1,620 passengers. Connectivity has also improved, with flights now linking Prayagraj to 17 cities, up from just eight in December 2024. In January 2025, more than 60 new flights were introduced, significantly improving accessibility. Parking capacity was tripled from 200 to 600 vehicles, and check-in counters expanded from 8 to 42.

Passenger convenience has been a top priority, with the airport now offering upgraded lounges, a childcare room, and more boarding bridges-up from 2 to 6. Food and beverage options have expanded, including the addition of the budget-friendly UDAN Yatri Cafe.