Nagpur: Official air traffic control (ATC) data indicates that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport is steadily emerging as a major aviation hub in Central India, with a sharp rise in aircraft movements handled over the past few years.
The Nagpur Air Traffic Control (ATC) unit has delivered strong operational performance by managing growing air traffic in a planned and coordinated manner. According to figures released by the Airports Authority of India, the year 2024 recorded the highest number of aircraft movements ever controlled at Nagpur, with a total of 5,85,505 aircraft movements handled during the year.
A year-wise comparison shows that between October and December 2022, ATC Nagpur managed 1,29,410 aircraft movements. This number rose significantly in 2023 to 5,40,339 movements. The upward trend continued in 2024, touching a record 5,85,505 movements. In just the first three months of 2025 (January to March), ATC has already controlled 1,53,212 aircraft movements, indicating sustained growth.
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During the same period, a total of 13,375 aircraft took off from Nagpur airport. Month-wise data for 2025 shows that ATC handled 51,160 movements in January, 50,952 in February, and 51,100 in March, reflecting consistently high traffic levels.
Nagpur ATC has also shown notable performance in both terminal and en-route traffic management. Between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025, ATC controlled 52,253 terminal movements. Additionally, from 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025, it managed a substantial 7,07,158 en-route movements.
Meanwhile, the authorities have clarified that there is no separate record of aircraft being denied landing permission at Nagpur airport due to congestion or operational constraints. The Airports Authority of India stated that strict coordination, technical vigilance, and systematic air traffic management by ATC have ensured that the increasing traffic has been handled smoothly and efficiently.
With traffic volumes rising consistently, Nagpur’s strategic location and ATC efficiency are reinforcing its role as a crucial air traffic hub for Central India.
