Chennai takes a back seat as Kolkata becomes the fifth busiest airport in India.

Nikunj Parikh - Mumbai Bureau May 31, 2026 1,400 Views

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata has surpassed Chennai International Airport in the passenger traffic rankings in India. The change is a significant realignment in the aviation hierarchy in India, and is in line with evolving travel patterns in key metros.

A subtle but profound change in Indian Aviation.

It was not a dramatic fall, it was a gradual fall. The airport in Chennai, which was once the busiest airport for South India, has now fallen to sixth place in passenger traffic, behind Kolkata. The signals are that the way and where Indians fly is changing.

The Numbers Behind The Shuffle

The airport in Kolkata has been seeing consistent growth in passenger numbers, which is attributed to the enhanced connectivity, increased travel demand in eastern India and the growing airline capacity on major routes. Meanwhile, Chennai has been unable to keep up with the pace partly because of the continuing infrastructure constraints and capacity issues that have hindered its capacity to handle traffic growth.

The current pecking order for passenger traffic in India now has Delhi and Mumbai at the top followed by Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and then Chennai at six.

Airport Traffic Takeaways

1) No ranking markers. Key shifts to note:

Kolkata has taken Chennai's fifth place for the first time in many years.
Kolkata's growth on the back of better route expansion and eastern corridor demand.
The top four remain the same: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
The infrastructure constraints in Chennai as a constraint on passenger volume growth.
Eastern India is emerging as a promising aviation market with Kolkata as its hub.

2) What It Means Going Forward

This is a data point to watch for airlines and airport planners. But for now, Kolkata has quietly made its way to the top table, and Chennai's new terminal development may turn the tide.