IndiGo's Flight Woes Hit Jet Fuel Sales as Petrol, Diesel, and LPG Soar

IndiGo's extensive flight cancellations led to a dip in aviation turbine fuel sales by over 4% in mid-December. Despite recent growth, new pilot duty-time rules and weather disruptions caused this decline. Meanwhile, sales of petrol, diesel, and LPG continued rising, driven by festive and household demand.

IndiGo, India's largest airline, faced significant operational challenges this December as it canceled almost 5,000 flights due to new pilot duty-time rules, crew shortages, and unfavorable weather conditions. This situation led to a 4% drop in aviation turbine fuel sales in the first half of December, a stark contrast to the steady growth seen over the past two years post-Covid.

The impact on the aviation fuel market stood out, as other major fuels like petrol, diesel, and LPG recorded substantial growth. India's diesel consumption, which dominates the fuel market, rose nearly 5%, while petrol and LPG sales also experienced noteworthy increases due to festive and household demand.

This trend highlights the resilience of India's overall fuel market, despite turbulence in the aviation sector. Meanwhile, India continues to expand its subsidized LPG supply scheme, bringing cleaner fuel options to millions of additional households across the nation.

(With inputs from agencies.)