**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the expansion of Gorakhpur Airport, to be answered on February 5th, 2026. It provides details on passenger and cargo movement, proposed infrastructure developments, potential new flight routes, and addresses concerns about flight delays and fare increases. Key dates include the financial years mentioned in the passenger and cargo statistics.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Passenger and Cargo Details**
* Data on passengers (in numbers) and cargo (in tonnes) carried by scheduled Indian operators for domestic operations from Gorakhpur from financial year 2022-2023 to 2025-2026 (provisional up to November 2025) is provided in Annexure-I.
* Aircraft movement details at Gorakhpur Airport for the last three years are in Annexure-II.
* **Infrastructure Development**
* Construction of a new terminal building at Gorakhpur Airport is proposed.
* The State Government has acquired 42.14 acres of land from the Indian Air Force for this project.
* **Flight Operations**
* Airlines have proposed operating flights to and from Gorakhpur connecting major cities during the Winter Schedule 2025, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
* Indian domestic aviation is deregulated, and airlines decide on routes based on traffic demand and commercial viability, compliant with existing guidelines.
* **Passenger Concerns**
* While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) doesn't maintain airport-wise data on flight delays/cancellations and fares, the government addresses passenger complaints.
* The DGCA has issued Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV to protect passengers from denied boarding, cancellations, and delays.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Passengers using Gorakhpur Airport**
**Impact:** Passengers will likely benefit from increased connectivity to major cities, a new terminal building, and measures to address flight disruptions and protect their rights.
**Action Required:** Passengers can file complaints related to flight delays, cancellations, and other issues, knowing that the government and DGCA have mechanisms to address these concerns.
**Stakeholder: Airlines Operating at Gorakhpur Airport**
**Impact:** Airlines are expected to consider operating flights to and from Gorakhpur based on market demand and commercial viability, following existing guidelines.
**Action Required:** Airlines need to assess the potential of Gorakhpur as a viable route within their network planning, considering passenger demand and operational feasibility.
**Stakeholder: Gorakhpur Airport Authority**
**Impact:** Increased passenger and cargo traffic due to expansion and new routes will impact airport operations.
**Action Required:** Continue developing the airport infrastructure.
**Stakeholder: State Government of Uttar Pradesh**
**Impact:** The State Government has played a role in land acquisition for expansion.
**Action Required:** Continue working towards infrastructural developments at the airport.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary ministry responsible for the policy's oversight and implementation.
Gorakhpur Airport: The primary subject of the policy, focusing on its expansion and operations.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulator that issued Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) related to passenger facilities.
Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV: A requirement issued by DGCA titled on 'Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights to protect the interests of passengers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1050
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
EXPANSION OF GORAKHPUR AIRPORT
1050. SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the number of domestic flights operated, passenger movement and
cargo handled at Gorakhpur Airport during the last three years, year-wise;
(b) whether any project has been approved or proposed for the expansion/modernisation
including terminal capacity, runway, apron, night landing, Instrument Landing System,
etc., at Gorakhpur Airport and if so, the details thereof including cost and the timeline
fixed for the said project;
(c) whether any discussions/proposals are under consideration with airlines to introduce
new domestic or inter-State flights from Gorakhpur, particularly to Delhi, Mumbai,
Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether complaints regarding flight delays, cancellations and excessive fare
increases have been received in respect of Gorakhpur Airport and if so, the details
thereof along with the steps taken to safeguard passenger convenience and protection?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): The details regarding Passenger ( in numbers) and Cargo (in tonnes) carried by
Scheduled Indian operators for Scheduled Domestic Operations from Gorakhpur from
Financial year 2022-2023 to Financial year 2025-2026 (Provisional upto November
2025) is placed at Annexure-I. The details of Aircraft movements at Gorakhpur Airport
during the last three years is attached at Annexure-II.
(b): The construction of New Terminal Building of Gorakhpur Airport is proposed. The
State Government has already acquired 42.14 acres of land from the Indian Air Force.
(c): As per the ongoing Winter Schedule 2025 for domestic operations, scheduled
airlines have proposed to operate flights to and from Gorakhpur Airport connecting
major cities, namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
Further, with the repeal of Air Corporations Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic
aviation has been deregulated. It is therefore up to the airlines to provide air services to
specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability subject tocompliance with the extant guidelines in this regard. Airlines plan their domestic flight
schedules on a specific route/city based on market demand, commercial feasibility and
their company policy.
(d): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) does not maintain airport wise data
related to flight delay /cancellations and excessive fare. However, Government takes
cognisance of passenger complaints regarding flight delays, last-minute cancellations,
poor communication, and grievance redressal. DGCA has issued Civil Aviation
Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV titled on 'Facilities to be provided to
passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in
flights to protect the interests of passengers.
******Annexure-I
Details of Number of Passengers (in numbers) and Cargo (in tonnes) carried to
and from Gorakhpur from F.Y. 2022-23 to 2025-26
Passengers (in numbers) and Cargo (in tonnes) carried to and from Gorakhpur
from F.Y. 2022-23 to 2025-26
Passenge Passengers Cargo
Total Cargo to
Financial rs to from from Total
Passenge Gorakhpu
Year Gorakhp Gorakhpu Gorakhp Cargo
rs r
ur r ur
2022-23
3,67,760 3,60,139 7,27,899 559.2 47.6 606.8
2023-24
3,55,457 3,37,813 6,93,270 716.4 4.0 720.4
2024-25
4,47,680 4,30,212 8,77,892 1,312.2 710.8 2,023.
0
2025-26
(Provisional 4,41,987 4,22,518 8,64,505 1,359.6 850.5 2,210.
upto 1
December
2025)Annexure-II
Details of Aircraft Movements at Gorakhpur Airport during the last three years
Calendar Year Arrival Departure Total
2023 2938 2938 5876
2024 2598 2598 5196
2025 3543 3543 7086