GMR to Consider Second Runway, Terminal at Hyderabad Airport Once Passenger Traffic Reaches 45 Million: Official.

GMR Group, which manages Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, is considering the addition of a second terminal and runway once passenger traffic reaches 45 million annually, according to a senior official. SGK Kishore, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer of GMR Airports, expressed confidence that the airport would hit 45 million passengers per year by 2030, up from the current 30 million, with an ultimate capacity target of 100 million passengers.

"We are expecting 45 million passengers annually by 2030, though it’s just an estimate, and anything can happen," Kishore said. "Based on our projections, we are proactively planning for capacity expansion."

The airport has already developed infrastructure in phases to accommodate 34 million passengers. When it opened in 2008, the airport had a capacity of 12 million. It currently operates one integrated terminal.

In addition to expansion plans, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) on Wednesday launched an AI-powered next-generation Airport Predictive Operation Centre (APOC), which integrates airside, landside, and terminal operations into a unified system. This advanced platform uses real-time data to enhance decision-making, reduce disruptions, and ensure smooth operations.

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, who attended the event, hailed the new initiative as a significant advancement in aviation operations in India.

ET