Sky High Surge: IndiGo Soars as India’s Air Passenger Traffic Climbs 8.4% in April

Domestic air travel in India continues its upward trajectory, with April 2025 marking a robust 8.4% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers.
A total of 1.43 crore (14.36 million) passengers took to the skies in April, up from 1.32 crore in the same month last year, reflecting the sustained boom in demand for air travel across the country.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) attributes this growth to a combination of rising demand, increased capacity, and a growing preference for air travel among Indian consumers.

IndiGo: The Undisputed Leader

IndiGo remains the dominant force in Indian aviation, carrying a staggering 64.1% of all domestic passengers in April.
This translates to over 9.17 million passengers choosing IndiGo, cementing its position as the airline of choice for the majority of Indian travelers.
IndiGo’s market share has remained steady compared to previous months, showcasing its resilience and operational efficiency even as competition intensifies.

The Air India Group, including Air India and Air India Express, increased its market share to 27.2% in April, up from 26.7% the previous month.
The group carried approximately 3.89 million passengers, reflecting its ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet and improve service quality.

Akasa Air maintained a stable market share of 5%, transporting around 713,000 passengers in April.
Alliance Air and Star Air held their respective shares at 0.5% and 0.4% respectively, serving niche markets and regional routes.

SpiceJet saw its market share dip to 2.6% in April, down from 3.3% in March, carrying 379,000 passengers.
The airline continues to face operational and financial challenges, impacting its ability to compete with larger rivals.

Punctuality remains a key differentiator in the competitive Indian aviation sector.
IndiGo led the pack with an on-time performance (OTP) of 80.8% across major metro airports (Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai).
Akasa Air followed closely with an OTP of 77.5%, while the Air India Group posted 72.4%.
Alliance Air and SpiceJet trailed, with SpiceJet recording the lowest OTP at 60%.

IndiGo’s passenger load factor improved to 86.9% in April, indicating strong demand and efficient capacity management.
Air India also saw an uptick in its load factor, reaching 83.3%.
High load factors across airlines suggest that the surge in passenger numbers is translating into fuller flights and better yields for carriers.

From January to April 2025, domestic airlines carried 5.75 crore (57.51 million) passengers, up from 5.23 crore (52.35 million) in the same period last year.
This represents an annual growth rate of 9.87%, underscoring the resilience of India’s aviation sector despite global economic uncertainties.

April’s 8.4% growth, while impressive, marks the slowest monthly increase of 2025 so far—down from 8.79% in March and 11.04% in February.
The moderation in growth is attributed to external disruptions, including security incidents that temporarily affected air travel in certain regions.

Rising disposable incomes, improved connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and aggressive pricing strategies by airlines are fueling the surge in air travel.
The expansion of airport infrastructure and the introduction of new routes have made flying more accessible than ever before.

Despite the impressive numbers, airlines face challenges such as volatile fuel prices, regulatory hurdles, and the need for continued investment in fleet modernization.
Maintaining high on-time performance and customer satisfaction will be critical as competition intensifies.

With the summer travel season underway and business travel rebounding, the outlook for Indian aviation remains optimistic.
Industry watchers expect continued growth, though at a more moderate pace, as airlines focus on profitability and operational excellence.

Domestic air passenger traffic in India rose 8.4% year-on-year in April 2025, reaching 1.43 crore.
IndiGo dominated with a 64.1% market share and the highest on-time performance.
Air India Group consolidated its position as the second-largest player, while Akasa Air and SpiceJet vied for smaller shares.
The sector’s growth is underpinned by strong demand, but airlines must navigate operational challenges to sustain momentum.