Domestic air passenger traffic rises to 24% in Aug

New Delhi, Sept 20: Domestic air passenger traffic rose nearly 24 per cent in August to 83.81 lakh passengers, as against 67.60 lakh passengers in the corresponding period last year, official data released on Monday showed.

The domestic air travel demand during the January-August period of this year, however, surged 23.14 per cent to 644.68 lakh fliers, as compared to 523.55 lakh passengers flown by the domestic carriers in the corresponding period of 2015.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said in a tweet that the 24 per cent growth in domestic air passenger traffic in August was the highest across the aviation markets.

"Another month of record growth for Indian aviation. August records 24% - highest worldwide," Mr Raju tweeted.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation data showed that no-frills carrier IndiGo carried the most number of passengers at 33.41 lakh with a market share touching almost 40 per cent, while another budget carrier SpiceJet had the highest passenger load factor (PLF) during the month under review at 93.2 per cent.

National carrier Air India also flew a total of 12.25 lakh passenger during August 2016 with a market share of 14.6 per cent - the lowest so far this year.

PTI