IndiGo Sets Aviation Record: Over 10 Million Passengers in November 2024

India’s domestic aviation industry witnessed a groundbreaking achievement in November 2024, with passenger traffic reaching unprecedented levels. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), this was the busiest month ever recorded for Indian domestic aviation. Airports and airlines alike experienced a surge in activity, with Delhi airport reporting its best performance to date. Additionally, three major airlines achieved remarkable milestones, as reported by Mint.

IndiGo’s Record-Breaking Performance

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, reached a historic milestone by becoming the first carrier in the country to transport over 10 million passengers in a single month. Of this total, 9.07 million were domestic passengers, with the remainder comprising international travelers.

This achievement marks the airline’s highest domestic passenger count since its launch 18 years ago. It also surpassed previous records of 8.64 million passengers in October 2024 and 8.52 million in December 2023. December 2024 is expected to set yet another benchmark for IndiGo, continuing its upward trajectory.

Unparalleled Market Share

IndiGo’s November performance boosted its market share to an all-time high of 63.6%. Despite facing demand normalization and yield pressure, as noted in its Q2FY25 financial results, IndiGo has demonstrated resilience. The airline’s domestic operations are now 1.5 times their pre-COVID-19 size, with international operations growing even faster.

Air India’s Post-Merger Gains

Air India, along with its subsidiary Air India Express, also achieved significant milestones. The airline carried 3.47 million passengers in November, claiming a market share of 24.4%. This milestone was bolstered by its recent merger with Vistara, which operated independently for the first 11 days of November. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) includes passenger numbers from Air India Express as part of Air India’s overall performance.

Record Domestic Passengers

For the first time, Air India managed over three million domestic passengers in a single month. With December 2024 marking the first full month of operations for the merged entities—Full-service Air India and low-cost Air India Express—this number is expected to grow further. However, the airline’s market share dropped to 27.3% in November, down from 29.2% in October when it operated as four distinct entities.

Akasa Air’s Recovery Path

Mumbai-based Akasa Air is on a recovery trajectory after facing challenges in 2023 due to pilot shortages. In November 2024, the airline carried 674,000 domestic passengers, achieving a market share of 4.7%. This figure surpasses its previous records of 664,000 passengers in May 2024 and 629,000 in May 2023.

Navigating Challenges

Akasa Air continues to navigate challenges, including competition from SpiceJet’s wet-leased aircraft and capacity limitations. While market share growth is essential, the airline remains focused on achieving profitability as it plans to expand its fleet and services.

Indian Aviation Industry Outlook

India’s aviation sector has already outpaced its 2023 passenger traffic levels, with December 2024 shaping up to be another record-breaking month. Daily passenger numbers surpassed 500,000 multiple times in November, indicating a strong recovery and growth trend.

Modest Annual Growth

Despite these achievements, the annual growth rate in passenger traffic has remained modest, ranging between 5% and 6%. Airlines face resistance to fare hikes, a challenge that has even been discussed in Parliament. As the industry moves forward, balancing growth with affordability and efficiency will be key.

Conclusion

India's aviation industry is soaring to new heights, with November 2024 marking a pivotal month of record-breaking milestones and strong recovery trends. IndiGo's historic achievement of carrying over 10 million passengers underscores its market leadership and the robust demand for air travel in the country.

Air India's post-merger gains and Akasa Air's steady recovery reflect the sector's resilience and adaptability despite challenges such as yield pressures, competition, and operational hurdles.

As passenger traffic continues to grow, December 2024 is poised to set even higher benchmarks, reinforcing the positive trajectory of the aviation sector. However, sustaining this growth will require airlines to strike a delicate balance between operational efficiency, affordability, and market competitiveness.

With a promising outlook for 2025, India's aviation industry is well-positioned to capitalize on its momentum, further contributing to the nation's economic and infrastructural progress.