India’s Domestic Air Passenger Traffic Up 10.78% In October

India’s domestic air traffic witnessed a substantial surge of 10.78 per cent in October 2023 compared to the same month last year, according to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on November 16.

The airlines carried 126.36 lakh passengers, marking a significant increase from the 114.07 lakh passengers transported in October 2022. This marks the eighth consecutive month of surpassing pre-Covid levels in the country.

Traffic data of Domestic Airlines for the month of October 2023 has been uploaded on DGCA website and is available at https://t.co/0mvhlKGBtx

— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) November 16, 2023

Monthly Performance of Key Airlines

IndiGo: Maintaining Dominance

IndiGo continued its market dominance, with a market share of 62.6 per cent in October. Despite a slight dip from September, the airline carried 79.07 lakh passengers. IndiGo has experienced consistent market share growth for three consecutive months following the cessation of GoFirst operations.

Air India: Second-Largest Carrier

In October, Air India secured the position of the second-largest domestic carrier with a market share of 10.5 per cent, transporting 13.27 lakh passengers. The airline’s market share had experienced fluctuations earlier in the year but has stabilized in recent months.

Vistara: Gaining Momentum

Vistara emerged as the third-largest domestic carrier, capturing a market share of 9.7 per cent and transporting 12.31 lakh passengers in October. The airline demonstrated a steady recovery, reclaiming lost market share over the past four months.

AirAsia India: Maintaining Position

AirAsia India, part of the Tata stable, maintained its fourth position in market share. Although experiencing a slight dip to 6.6 per cent in October, the airline served 8.31 lakh passengers.

Akasa Air: New Entrant Challenges

India’s newest carrier, Akasa Air, held a market share of 4.2 per cent, carrying 5.25 lakh passengers in October. The airline faced initial challenges but maintained its market share compared to the previous months.

SpiceJet: Struggling Market Presence

SpiceJet faced challenges, with a market share of 5 per cent in October. The airline has been grappling with issues such as aircraft repossession, legal disputes, and a decline in market share from its peak in February 2022.

Passenger Load Factor and On-Time Performance

In October, the passenger load factor (occupancy rate) for major airlines varied, with IndiGo leading at 90.1 per cent. Akasa Air saw a slight increase to 88.1 per cent. IndiGo maintained its on-time performance leadership for the fourth consecutive month.

Industry Challenges and Disruptions

The G20 summit in September led to disruptions in approximately 1,000 domestic flights, as airlines were instructed to curtail frequency by a fourth due to parking constraints at the Delhi airport.

Passenger Complaints and Disruptions

In October, a total of 475 passenger complaints were recorded, with 0.38 complaints per 10,000 passengers. Airlines denied boarding to 587 passengers, and flight cancellations and delays impacted 30,307 and 1,78,227 passengers, respectively.

G20 Summit Impacts Flight Schedules

The G20 summit in September caused disruptions to around 1,000 domestic flights due to parking constraints at the Delhi airport. Airlines were instructed to reduce their frequencies by a quarter during the summit period.

Conclusion

India’s domestic aviation industry is on an upward trajectory, with passenger traffic rebounding and airlines expanding their networks. IndiGo remains the dominant player, while Air India and Vistara are gaining ground. However, challenges such as pilot shortages and financial issues continue to impact some carriers.