India’s domestic air traffic hit a historic milestone on November 17, with over 5.05 lakh passengers flying in a single day. This marks the first time the daily domestic passenger count has crossed the 5 lakh mark. Airlines operated 3,173 flights that day, reflecting strong demand driven by the festive and wedding seasons.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation celebrated the achievement in a post on X, calling it a reflection of the sector’s rapid growth and the increasing trust of Indians in air travel.
Airlines See Surge Amid High Occupancy
The occupancy rate for most flights exceeded 90% on Sunday, showing the growing preference for air travel. However, On-Time Performance (OTP) was impacted by dense smog in northern airports, especially New Delhi. IndiGo recorded an OTP of 74.2%, followed by Alliance Air at 71% and Akasa Air at 67.6%. SpiceJet and Air India lagged behind, with OTPs of 66.1% and 57.1%, respectively.
The milestone also boosted shares of Interglobe Aviation, IndiGo’s parent company, and SpiceJet by 3% during intraday trade on Tuesday.
Growth in Flight Operations and Market Share
According to the DGCA’s winter schedule, Indian airlines will operate 25,007 flights weekly, a 5.37% increase compared to 2023. IndiGo’s market share reached 63% in September, while domestic traffic rose by 6% year-on-year, with 1.3 crore passengers flying in September alone.
This milestone highlights India’s growing aviation sector, driven by expanding connectivity and increased accessibility for air travelers.
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