Domestic Air Traffic in India Reaches 4.37 Crore Passengers Amid Flight Delays
Domestic air traffic rises to 4.37 cr in March quarter; flight delays hit 1.21 lakh passengers last month
The Economic Times
Image: The Economic Times
In the first quarter of 2026, Indian airlines transported 4.37 crore passengers, a slight increase from the previous year. However, March saw 1.21 lakh passengers affected by flight delays, with IndiGo maintaining the highest on-time performance at 88.7%.
- 01Domestic air traffic reached 4.37 crore passengers in Q1 2026.
- 02IndiGo's market share increased to 63.3%, while Air India's share decreased.
- 03Flight delays affected 1.21 lakh passengers in March, costing airlines ₹3.19 crore.
- 04IndiGo achieved the highest on-time performance at 88.7%.
- 05Airlines spent ₹97.42 lakh on compensation for denied boarding.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
In the first quarter of 2026, Indian airlines carried 4.37 crore passengers on domestic routes, reflecting a 1.23% annual growth despite a 0.87% decline in March compared to February. IndiGo maintained its dominance with a market share of 63.3%, while Air India Group's share fell to 26.2%. March's air traffic saw 1.44 crore passengers, slightly down from 1.45 crore in March 2025. Flight delays impacted 1.21 lakh passengers, leading to costs of ₹3.19 crore for airlines. Compensation for cancellations totaled ₹93.49 lakh for 66,784 passengers. IndiGo led in on-time performance with 88.7%, followed by Akasa Air at 82.6% and Air India Group at 78%.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The rise in air traffic indicates a recovery in domestic travel, but delays may lead to increased dissatisfaction among passengers and potential financial losses for airlines.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
How do you feel about the current state of domestic air travel in India?
Connecting to poll...
More about IndiGo
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.