**Domestic Air Passenger Traffic Declines in July Amid Safety Concerns**
Domestic air passenger traffic in India experienced a year-on-year decline of 2.94%, totaling 1.26 crore in July, as reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This decrease follows the tragic Air India plane crash on June 12, which resulted in the loss of 260 lives, casting a shadow over the aviation sector.
In July 2024, Indian airlines transported 1.29 crore passengers on domestic routes. Notably, the Air India Group saw a 1% drop in market share, carrying 33.08 lakh passengers compared to the previous month. This decline can be attributed to Air India’s decision to reduce domestic capacity by 5% in late June to conduct thorough checks on its fleet.
Conversely, market leader IndiGo increased its market share from 64.5% to 65.2%. However, the Gurugram-based airline reported a decrease in passenger numbers, flying 82.15 lakh in July, down from 87.74 lakh in June 2025. Other significant carriers, Akasa Air and SpiceJet, experienced slight increases in market share, reaching 5.5% and 2%, respectively.
The Air India Group’s load factor, which indicates the percentage of occupied seats, fell to 78.6% in July from 81.5% in June. This trend was mirrored across other major airlines, reflecting a broader decline in passenger occupancy rates.
IndiGo stood out with the highest on-time performance rate of 91.4% among domestic airlines in July, serving six major metro airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
In summary, the domestic aviation sector is facing challenges, including safety concerns and fluctuating passenger numbers, which may impact future growth and operational strategies.
**FAQ**
*What factors contributed to the decline in domestic air passenger traffic in July?*
The decline in domestic air passenger traffic in July was influenced by the tragic Air India plane crash in June, which raised safety concerns among travelers, alongside a reduction in capacity by some airlines for fleet checks.
