India's Air Passenger Traffic Sees Notable Growth in 2025-26
Overview of Air Passenger Traffic Growth
In 2025-26, the total air passenger traffic increased 2.7 per cent to 246.1 million compared to the year-ago period when it stood at 239.7 million.
New Delhi, Nov 11: The international air passenger traffic in India experienced a growth of over 6 percent, reaching 78.7 million, despite a decrease in the market share of Indian airlines to 44.4 percent for the year ending March 2026, as per official statistics.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released the Handbook on Civil Aviation Statistics for 2025-26, revealing that as of March 31, 2026, there were 2,218 aircraft registered with the authority.
Among these, scheduled airlines operated 985 planes, while non-scheduled operators had 425 aircraft. The remaining aircraft were owned by government entities, private companies, and training institutions.
In the fiscal year 2025-26, total air passenger traffic rose by 2.7 percent, totaling 246.1 million, compared to 239.7 million in the previous year.
Domestic air traffic saw a modest increase of 1.1 percent, reaching 167.4 million, while international traffic surged by 6.1 percent to 78.7 million.
These figures encompass both departing and arriving passengers for international flights.
The report indicated that domestic passenger traffic achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0 percent from 2015-16 to 2025-26, while international passenger traffic grew at a CAGR of 4.6 percent during the same timeframe.
In terms of international traffic, Indian airlines held a market share of 44.4 percent, with foreign carriers capturing 55.6 percent in 2025-26.
This marks a decline from the previous year's share of 45.7 percent for Indian airlines.
Among the 90 scheduled international operators in India, the top 10 accounted for nearly 65 percent of the total international passenger traffic, while the top 15 made up 73.1 percent in 2025-26.
Regarding outbound international passenger traffic, the report noted that 51.5 percent was directed towards Africa and the Middle East, 30.4 percent to the Asia Pacific region, and 13.6 percent to Europe.
The data also highlighted that demand outstripped available capacity in the last fiscal year.
From 2015-16 to 2025-26, the domestic market's capacity (measured in Available Seat Kilometres or ASK) grew at a CAGR of 7.0 percent, while demand (measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres or RPK) increased at a CAGR of 7.3 percent.
In the previous fiscal year, domestic and international cargo traffic rose significantly, with domestic cargo increasing by 24 percent to 9.78 lakh metric tonnes and international cargo by 21.3 lakh metric tonnes.
India continues to be recognized as one of the fastest-growing domestic civil aviation markets globally.