INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
3 min read Last Updated : Jun 20 2024 | 1:29 AM IST
India is the third-largest domestic airline market in the world, up from number five
7.9 million in April 2014 to 15.5 million in April 2024.
In reaching the third slot, India has replaced Brazil (pushed to fourth place with
amongst the top five countries, growing at 6.9 per cent annually, followed by China at 6.3 per cent, the US at 2.4 per cent, Indonesia by
per cent, Brazil at 62.4 per cent, the US at 36.7 per cent, and China at 13.2 per cent).The LCC growth has been fueled by IndiGo; in the
While the rest of the market has seen its seat growth averaging 0.7 per annually in the decade, IndiGo has seen a domestic capacity growth
of 13.9 per cent annually.Clearly, while both IndiGo and Air India are now looking at aggressively moving international, OAG says it is
inevitable that the substantial narrow-bodied aircraft ordered by the two will also be used to expand domestic capacity.According to
Air India is narrow-bodied.The big question, though, is whether India has enough airports to cater to this soaring growth
India has 119 airports offering domestic flights compared to 250 in China and 656 in the US.Indigo has projected that domestic passengers
are projected to double from 155 million in 2024 to 350 million in 2030.This is the challenge lying in the inbox of the Civil Aviation
Ministry.First Published: Jun 20 2024 | 1:29 AMIST
