Domestic air passenger traffic sets record with over 5 lakh flyers in a single day
Domestic air travel in India reached an unprecedented milestone on November 17, with a record 5,05,412 passengers flying on a single day, the Civil Aviation Ministry reported. This surge, driven by the festive and wedding seasons, underscores the growing demand for air travel in the country.
According to the ministry’s data, airlines operated 3,173 flights on Sunday, with occupancy rates surpassing 90% for major carriers. The achievement marks the first time domestic air passenger traffic crossed the 5 lakh threshold in a single day.
Gaurav Patwari, Vice President – Air Category at travel platform Cleartrip opines that domestic travel has seen a robust uptick due to festive and wedding season demand.
Despite the high passenger volumes, on-time performance (OTP) of airlines has faced challenges recently. On November 17, IndiGo recorded an OTP of 74.2%, Alliance Air 71%, and Akasa Air 67.6%. SpiceJet and Air India trailed with OTPs of 66.1% and 57.1%, respectively.
The winter flight schedule, which commenced on October 27 and runs through March 29, 2025, includes 25,007 weekly flights, a 3% increase compared to the summer schedule. This represents a 5.37% rise in flights compared to last year’s winter schedule, reflecting the steady growth of India’s aviation sector.
