What Caused India’s Domestic Flyer Count to Rise to 1.4 Crore in May?
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Synopsis
India's domestic air travel sees a significant rise as passenger numbers hit 1.4 crore in May. Discover how the ongoing geopolitical tensions affected flight operations, impacting airlines' performance and passenger satisfaction.
Key Takeaways
- Domestic air passenger traffic increased to 1.4 crore in May.
- IndiGo holds a 64.6 percent market share.
- Akasa Air achieved the highest PLF at 91.4 percent.
- Flight disruptions were caused by geopolitical tensions.
- Airlines received 958 passenger complaints in May.
New Delhi. June 25 (NationPress) India’s domestic air passenger traffic saw a notable rise of 1.89 percent in May this year, reaching 1.4 crore, up from 1.38 crore in the same month last year, as per the latest figures released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Flight operations at over 30 airports in the border regions faced interruptions for about a week in May, stemming from the India-Pakistan conflict that erupted following the tragic killing of 26 individuals in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists based in Pakistan.
This disruption adversely affected the passenger load factor (PLF) across all airlines, which indicates the percentage of occupied seats on flights. The PLF for IndiGo dropped to 85.1 percent from 86.9 percent in the same month last year, while SpiceJet’s PLF decreased to 84 percent from 86 percent, and Air India’s PLF fell to 80.2 percent from 83.3 percent. Notably, Akasa Air recorded the highest PLF for May at 91.4 percent.
IndiGo, the country’s leading airline, increased its market share to 64.6 percent in May from 64.1 percent, successfully transporting 90.8 lakh passengers during the month.
Conversely, Air India witnessed a decrease in its market share, dropping to 26.5 percent from 27.2 percent, carrying 37.22 lakh passengers throughout the month. Among other airlines, SpiceJet’s market share fell to 2.4 percent from 2.6 percent, while Akasa Air saw an increase to 5.3 percent from 5 percent.
In May, domestic airlines received approximately 958 passenger-related complaints, with Alliance Air garnering the most complaints, followed by Fly Big and Spice Jet.
Regarding on-time performance, IndiGo outperformed its competitors with an accuracy rate of 84 percent, followed by the Air India group at 79.7 percent, Akasa Air at 78.9 percent, Alliance Air at 53.5 percent, and SpiceJet at 50.1 percent, as indicated by the data. The cancellation rate for domestic flights in May stood at 2.51 percent.
Point of View
The increase in India's domestic air passenger traffic reflects resilience in the aviation sector, despite external challenges. The insights shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation underline the need for continuous improvements in operational efficiency and customer service to enhance the overall flying experience.
NationPress
25/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the increase in domestic air passenger traffic in May?
India's domestic air passenger traffic registered a 1.89 percent increase in May, reaching 1.4 crore.
Which airline had the highest passenger load factor in May?
Akasa Air recorded the highest passenger load factor at 91.4 percent in May.
How did the India-Pakistan conflict affect airlines?
The conflict led to disruptions at over 30 airports, impacting flight operations and subsequently the passenger load factors of airlines.
What was IndiGo's market share in May?
IndiGo increased its market share to 64.6 percent in May.
How many passenger-related complaints did airlines receive in May?
Domestic airlines received approximately 958 complaints related to passengers.
