India’s domestic aviation sector continued its upward momentum in April, recording an 8.45 per cent increase in passenger traffic year-on-year, according to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday.
A total of 1.43 crore passengers took domestic flights during the month, despite widespread flight delays and cancellations caused by inclement weather. Cumulative data from January to April 2025 shows domestic airlines carried 575.13 lakh passengers, registering a 9.87 per cent rise from 523.46 lakh during the same period last year. The aviation sector, however, faced notable operational challenges in April. Around 38.8 per cent of flight cancellations were attributed to weather-related issues, directly impacting 20,840 passengers. Airlines collectively paid Rs 41.69 lakh in compensation and provided other facilities—more than double the amount disbursed in March, marking a sharp 117 per cent month-on-month increase.
Delays added further strain, affecting 96,350 passengers—up 68 per cent from March. Most delays, about 70 per cent, were “reactionary”, resulting from late arrivals of aircraft from preceding flights. IndiGo, the country’s largest domestic airline, maintained its dominance with a market share of 64.1 per cent in April, a marginal rise from 64 per cent in March. The carrier also posted an improvement in passenger load factor, climbing from 84.6 per cent in March to 86.9 per cent in April. While bad weather disrupted services, the increase in air traffic underscores resilient demand and a steady recovery in India’s aviation sector.
Analysts expect continued growth as the summer travel season progresses, though operational reliability remains a key concern for both regulators and carriers.
