India’s aviation sees best first-half traffic ever in 2024 at 79.3 mn

The Indian aviation industry has witnessed its highest half-year traffic ever in 2024, transporting a record 79.3 million passengers between January and June, according to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or DGCA. On a year-on-year basis, the figure stood at 76 million passengers in the first half of last year.

The DGCA report added that the Tata group of airlines and IndiGo were ahead of other carriers in terms of market growth, while SpiceJet was among the biggest strugglers as the brand’s market share declined.

In the pre-Covid era, Air India — now Tata-owned and then government-owned — along with Vistara and AirAsia India had a combined market share of 24.1 per cent. In 2024, the Tata group of airlines comprises Air India, Air India Express, Vistara and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) that together own a 28.7 per cent market share.

IndiGo, among the country’s two listed airlines, had a market share of 47.1 per cent in 2019, the last complete year of aviation business before Covid-19 struck. Post-pandemic, the figure has phenomenally risen to touch the 60-per cent mark. However, business for the carrier slowed down owing to a dearth of aircraft. The company has more than 350 planes, the DGCA report said, but nearly 80 of its craft are currently grounded owing to engine problems. Aircraft shortage, in fact, has affected many of companies lately, and has led to rise in fares.

SpiceJet, meanwhile, saw a sharp drop in business, with market share of the carrier falling below 4 per cent in June. The second quarter ended with the company managing to retain 4.2 per cent of market share.

Compared to May 2024, June witnessed a fall in overall aviation business, and the pan-India heatwave could be a reason. However, the month also saw the best June business recorded by the aviation industry in India, with various airlines ferrying 13.6 million passengers compared to 12.4 million in June 2023.

The report showed how India is among nations where aviation has managed to bounce back after Covid-19 paralysed all business, and the country’s aviation sector is actually on an upsurge post pandemic. So far, 2023 was the best year for domestic air travel, recording a 5.77 per cent growth compared with business in the pre-Covid years. The figures of 2024 so far are 12.3 per cent better than 2019.