Domestic Air Traffic Soars 36%, Over 60% Fly By IndiGo

The civil aviation sector in the country has witnessed an impressive growth, with the number of passengers carried by domestic airlines growing substantially this year. Based on the traffic data provided by different domestic airlines, the passenger count reached an impressive 636.07 lakh during the first five months this year.

This reflects a significant annual growth rate of 36.10% as compared to the corresponding period of the same five months (January-May) in the preceding year of 2022, during which the passenger count was 467.37 lakh.

In May last year, passenger count was 114.67 lakh, which in May 2023 rose to 132.41 lakh, registering a month-on-month growth of 15.24%. The overall passenger number in May 2023 increased by 3.26 lakh (2.52%) as compared to the previous month of April this year.

Notably, an overwhelming number of flyers chose India's largest airline IndiGo, taking its market share to 61.3 per cent. The low-cost carrier flew 81.1 lakh passengers last month while Air India became the second-largest domestic carrier by flying 12.44 lakh passengers and achieving a market share of 9.4 per cent in the month.

Vistara's market share too rose to 9 per cent and the airline flew 11.95 lakh passengers last month. Another low-cost carrier SpiceJet flew 7.2 lakh passengers to garner a market share of 5.4 per cent in May this year while India's newest airline Akasa Air carried 6.29 lakh passengers to record a market share of 4.8 per cent during the month.

Also, the number of complaints decreased in May 2023 vis-à-vis May 2019. In May 2019, a total of 746 passenger related complaints had been received by the scheduled domestic airlines. Whereas, in May 2023, a total of 556 passenger related complaints had been received by the scheduled domestic airlines.

However, the lone bad news for the sector came from Go First which stopped its operations on May 3 following the company reporting bankruptcy. The airline also dominated the cancellation figures at 44.1 per 1,000 passengers whereas the overall cancellation rate of the scheduled domestic airlines came down to just 0.44 per cent in May 2023, showing a very positive trend.

The higher load factor of 636.07 lakh passengers during January-May this year suggests a rising demand for air transportation, underscoring the favourable direction of the aviation industry. This consistent growth is a testament to the collective efforts of airlines, airports and the concerned ministry in fostering a safe, efficient and customer-centric aviation ecosystem.

The notable increase in the volume of passengers demonstrates the strength and durability of India's aviation sector, showcasing the continuous endeavours to improve connectivity and offer convenient travel choices to our country's citizens.

This accomplishment is an outcome of the careful and thorough planning, operational effectiveness, and proactive actions undertaken by the industry. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines have shown resilience by providing smooth and hassle-free travel experiences for passengers, along with improved air services.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "The collaborative efforts of all stakeholders have played a crucial role in propelling the growth of the aviation sector and establishing India as a prominent global aviation hub. The consistent expansion of the domestic airline industry and the birth of regional airlines are strengthening our economy, connecting people throughout the nation and ensuring last mile connectivity through the UDAN Scheme."