Prayagraj Airport has experienced a remarkable surge in air traffic, going from welcoming around five flights a day to witnessing a flurry of commercial and private aircraft since January 12. This increase coincides with the commencement of the Maha Kumbh, the largest religious gathering in the world.
From January 12 to February 6, a total of 372 scheduled and chartered flights landed in Prayagraj, according to recent analytical data. The flight tracking analysis indicates that the volume of air traffic skyrocketed in the days leading up to the significant Amrit Snan (nectar bath) events on January 29 and February 3.
On peak days, including January 28, February 1, and February 6, Prayagraj Airport reported a maximum of 22 flight landings. The next Amrit Snan is set for February 12, further anticipated to boost flight activity.
Delhi emerged as the top contributor of flights to Prayagraj during this 26-day period, accounting for 129 of the total flights. This was followed by Mumbai with 63 flights, Bengaluru with 37, and Ahmedabad and Kolkata with 28 each. Additional flights came from Raipur (22), Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar (13 each), and Lucknow (10), including seven flights from Jaipur and five from Indore.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), approximately 132 flights were expected monthly during the Maha Kumbh, translating to about 80,000 available seats from 17 cities across India. However, within the ten days leading up to Mauni Amavasya, flight traffic was consistent with the expected monthly capacity for the city.
Private Jets Bring VIPs to Maha Kumbh
During the stated period, at least 20 private jets were recorded landing in Prayagraj, carrying a number of VIPs from various locations across India and internationally. It is important to note that the actual number of private jet landings is likely higher, as many high-profile flights do not transmit location and identification data, complicating tracking efforts.
Many of the tracked private jets belonged to prominent business entities and commercial charter services, including well-known companies and luxury service providers. Additionally, government officials were transported via the Uttar Pradesh government’s Hawker 900XP and Haryana government’s Beech King Air 250 aircraft.
Popular aircraft types visiting Prayagraj during this period included Bombardier Global, Cessna 560XL Citation, Dassault Falcon, and Hawker models.
