April Sees 4% Dip in India's Domestic Air Travel

India's domestic air travel sector experienced a 4% reduction in passenger numbers in April compared to March. The dip comes amid operational challenges including higher fuel expenses and soft demand. IndiGo increased its market share, while other airlines faced declines.

In April, India's domestic air travel sector experienced a 4% decline in passenger traffic, reaching just over 1.38 crore. This drop was reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which attributed the downturn to various challenges, including increased costs and subdued travel demand.

As airlines grappled with these hurdles, many streamlined their operations. IndiGo expanded its market share from 63.3% in March to 65% in April. In contrast, Air India Group's share reduced to 24.7%. Akasa Air and SpiceJet also saw minor changes in their market positions, and the market share of Alliance Air decreased. The data also revealed that nearly 1.12% of flights faced delays over two hours, affecting over 1.35 lakh passengers and leading to compensation payouts.