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India has ascended to become the third-largest domestic airline market globally, fueled by a decade of robust growth in its aviation sector. This significant rise, from the fifth position a decade ago, underscores India’s rapid development in airline capacity and passenger traffic.
Ten years ago, India was the smallest market among the top five, with around 8 million seats. Indonesia and Brazil occupied the fourth and third spots, respectively, with the United States and China leading the rankings. Today, while the US and China continue to dominate, India has surpassed Brazil and Indonesia, boasting an airline capacity of 15.6 million seats in April 2024, according to OAG data.
India’s capacity growth rate over the past decade stands at an impressive 6.9% annually, the highest among the top five domestic markets. This growth rate outpaces China’s 6.3% annual growth, with the US and Indonesia showing much smaller increases.
A key factor in India’s aviation boom is the prominence of low-cost carriers (LCCs). In April 2024, LCCs accounted for 78.4% of domestic airline capacity in India, the highest share among the top five domestic markets. IndiGo, India’s leading airline, has nearly doubled its market share from 32% in 2014 to 62% today. While the rest of the market has seen minimal growth, averaging just 0.7% annually, IndiGo’s domestic capacity has surged at a rate of 13.9% per year.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the aviation industry has seen substantial growth and development. On November 19 last year, India witnessed its highest single-day air traffic since the pandemic, with airlines flying 456,910 domestic passengers—a 7.4% increase above pre-COVID averages, as reported by the Civil Aviation Ministry.
The number of airports in the country has more than doubled, rising from 74 to 157 in the past decade. Additionally, the government’s Digi Yatra initiative, aimed at providing a seamless and paperless travel experience, saw over 91 lakh passengers utilizing the facility and more than 35 lakh users downloading the app in 2023.
India’s rapid growth in the aviation sector is setting the stage for the industry’s future development over the next 25 years. The country’s strategic investments in infrastructure, coupled with the dominance of low-cost carriers and government initiatives, are poised to drive continued expansion and innovation in the domestic airline market.
Sources By Agencies
