81 AAI Airports Record Rs 108.53 Billion Loss in 10 Years

14 Aug 2025 CW Team

Eighty-one airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have collectively incurred losses of Rs 108.53 billion over the past 10 financial years, with 22 of these now non-operational. The figures were presented in the Rajya Sabha on 4 August by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in response to a query from Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisam.

From 2015–2016 to 2024–2025, Safdarjung Airport in Delhi reported the highest losses at Rs 6.74 billion, followed by Agartala at Rs 6.05 billion, Hyderabad at Rs 5.65 billion, Dehradun at Rs 4.88 billion, and Vijayawada at Rs 4.84 billion. Other major loss-making airports include Bhopal (Rs 4.80 billion), Aurangabad (Rs 4.48 billion), Tirupati (Rs 3.64 billion), Khajuraho (Rs 3.56 billion), and Imphal (Rs 3.55 billion).

Safdarjung Airport, once the capital’s main airport, is no longer operational for commercial flights and is primarily used for ferrying VVIPs to Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The 22 airports that have ceased operations include Donakonda, Daparizo, Jogbani, Muzaffarpur, Raxaul, Deesa, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh, Khandwa, Panna, Shella, Aizawl, Thanjavur, Vellore, Nadirgul, Warangal, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai, Asansol, Balurghat, and Malda.

Mohol also highlighted the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), launched on 21 October 2016 to improve air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports. The scheme offers Viability Gap Funding to airlines to offset the shortfall between operational costs and projected revenues. For FY 2025–2026, Rs 3 billion has been allocated to the programme.

Since inception, RCS-UDAN has operationalised 92 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes, with financial incentives and concessions provided by central and state governments, Union territories, and airport operators to lower operational costs.

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