Indian airlines recorded a significant rise in domestic passenger traffic in July, with over 1.29 crore travellers, marking an annual increase of 7.3 per cent compared to the same month last year. However, this figure represents a slight dip from June’s total of 1.32 crore passengers.
IndiGo solidified its position as the dominant player in the domestic market, capturing a commanding 62 per cent market share in July. In contrast, Air India experienced a decrease, with its market share falling to 14.3 per cent. Vistara saw an uptick, increasing its share to 10 per cent, while AIX Connect and SpiceJet experienced declines, with shares of 4.5 per cent and 3.1 per cent, respectively. Akasa Air and Alliance Air also saw reductions in their market shares, slipping to 4.7 per cent and 0.9 per cent.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that from January to July 2024, domestic airlines transported 9.23 crore passengers, up from 8.82 crore in the same period the previous year, reflecting a year-to-date growth of 4.7 per cent and a monthly growth of 7.33 per cent.
Despite the annual increase, July’s air traffic showed a marginal decrease compared to June, where traffic peaked at 1.32 crore. Year-on-year, however, the growth remains robust, with July 2024’s passenger count of 1.29 crore up from 1.21 crore in July 2023.
The DGCA’s data also highlights operational challenges. In July, 1,114 passengers were denied boarding, with airlines providing Rs 112.71 lakh in compensation and facilities. Cancellations affected 1,54,770 passengers, costing airlines Rs 110.59 lakh. Delays impacted 3,20,302 passengers, leading to expenditures of Rs 341.05 lakh for compensation and facilitation. The overall cancellation rate for July was reported at 1.90 per cent.
Additionally, the DGCA recorded 1,097 passenger-related complaints in July, translating to approximately 0.84 complaints per 10,000 passengers. This metric indicates a relatively low level of passenger dissatisfaction amid rising travel volumes.
The growth in domestic air traffic underscores the robust recovery of the aviation sector, reflecting increased consumer confidence and travel demand despite operational hurdles.
