Lakshadweep sees lowest air traffic in 2023, says Airports Authority of India data
Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and derogatory remarks by three Maldivian ministers against India and PM Modi have led to a resurgence of interest in visiting the island chain, despite 2023 recording the lowest number of aircraft movements to the archipelago since 2015, excluding the archipelago 2020, according to AAI data. The Agatti Island airport in Lakshadweep registered the lowest number of flights during the April-November 2023 period, the lowest in eight years, according to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
As per the AAI data, the Agatti airport reported 1,080 aircraft movements during this period, compared to 1,482 during April-November 2022 and 1,202 during April-November 2021. The trend is similar in earlier years, except in 2020 when travel and tourism were disrupted due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important to note that aircraft movements are the number of times aircraft take off and land at a particular airport. One take-off and landing are considered to be two aircraft movements.
The island chain is in the news after a recent controversy triggered after three junior ministers of the Maldivian government made inappropriate remarks against India and Prime Minister Modi after he shared some photos of the visit on social media promoting tourism in the archipelago. The controversy led to many Indian celebrities announcing plans for a Lakshadweep vacation, generating interest in the archipelago.
But a lack of direct connectivity, and insufficient hotels and tourist conveniences would deter people from visiting the islands, industry executives said. “Unlike Lakshadweep, Indians now have more direct connectivity to various beach destinations in and around the country,"
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