India’s Domestic Air Travel Rises 1.89% In May Despite Border Tensions

India’s domestic air travel recorded a marginal year-on-year growth in May, as per the latest data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). A total of 1.4 crore passengers took to the skies in May 2025, reflecting a 1.89 per cent increase from 1.38 crore in May 2024.

The rise, however, came in the backdrop of significant operational disruptions across more than 30 airports located near the country’s border zones. These disruptions stemmed from security-related tensions following the tragic killing of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam by Pakistan-based militants. The ensuing India-Pakistan standoff resulted in curtailed air operations for nearly a week, affecting flight schedules and load factors.

The impact was visible in the Passenger Load Factor (PLF), which dipped across all major airlines. IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, saw its PLF reduce to 85.1 per cent from 86.9 per cent a year ago. SpiceJet and Air India reported a decline to 84 per cent (from 86 per cent) and 80.2 per cent (from 83.3 per cent) respectively. Akasa Air, however, bucked the trend by posting the highest PLF at 91.4 per cent.

Despite the lower load factor, IndiGo expanded its market share to 64.6 per cent in May, ferrying 90.8 lakh passengers. Air India, in contrast, saw a slip in its market share to 26.5 per cent, having carried 37.22 lakh passengers. SpiceJet’s share dropped to 2.4 per cent from 2.6 per cent, while Akasa Air increased its slice of the market to 5.3 per cent.

Also Read: Microsoft Eyes Major Xbox Layoffs In Company-Wide Restructuring Drive; Details Inside

Customer Complaints And Operational Efficiency

The sector registered 958 complaints from air passengers in May. Among the carriers, Alliance Air recorded the highest number of complaints, followed by Fly Big and SpiceJet.

In terms of punctuality, IndiGo led the charts with an on-time performance of 84 per cent. The Air India group followed with 79.7 per cent, Akasa Air posted 78.9 per cent, while Alliance Air and SpiceJet recorded 53.5 per cent and 50.1 per cent, respectively.

According to the DGCA data, the overall cancellation rate for scheduled domestic flights in May stood at 2.51 per cent. Despite the geopolitical setbacks, the civil aviation sector appears to be gradually regaining momentum.

business