Domestic air traffic sees 26 percent growth in July

Aug 22, 2016: India’s air traffic grew over 25 percent in July as compared to the same year-ago period, according to data released on Friday by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

In July, low-cost carrier IndiGo’s market share reached almost 40 percent, the DGCA data shows. Airlines carried 8.5 million domestic passengers last month, an increase of 25.82 percent from July 2015.

IndiGo’s market-share reached its highest at 39.8 percent - more than Air India, Jet Airways and AirAsia India combined.

Jet Airways group (19.1 percent), Air India (14.8 percent), SpiceJet (11.7 percent), GoAir (8.4%) Vistara (2.6 percent), AirAsia India (2.2 percent), TruJet (0.3 percent) and Air Pegasus (0.2 percent) followed IndiGo.

SpiceJet had the highest flight occupancy at 92 percent, followed by GoAir’s 90.3 percent, AirAsia India’s 85.7 percent, Air Pegasus’ 84 percent, Jet Airways’ 83.8 percent, IndiGo’s 83.6 percent, Air India’s 80.3 percent, Trujet’s 79.4 percent and Vistara’s 75.2 percent.

“The passenger load factor in the month of July 2016 has almost remained constant compared to previous month primarily due to the end of tourist season,” said the regulator in its report.

The second quarter of the fiscal year that starts in July is considered a lean season for travel, when most airlines lower their fares to attract passengers.

Passengers carried by domestic airlines during Jan-Jul 2016 were 560.87 lakhs as against 455.95 lakhs during the corresponding period of previous year thereby registering a growth of 23.01 percent.

The overall cancellation rate of scheduled domestic airlines for the month of July 2016 has been 0.70 percent.