Parliament Question: Domestic air passenger traffic

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1795 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th March 2026 DOMESTIC AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC 1795. SHRI SANJAY SETH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) the monthly domestic air passenger traffic for the last two years and the annual growth rates; (b) the key economic and social factors contributing to increased air travel, during 2025-26; (c) the financial challenges faced by domestic airlines in maintaining profitability amid growing passenger volumes; (d) initiatives taken to support airlines in fleet expansion and modernization; and (e) Government's plans to ensure affordable air travel while maintaining industry sustainability? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a): The monthly domestic air passenger traffic for the past two years along with the annual growth rates is placed at Annexure. (b): The increase in air travel during 2025-26 may be attributed to factors such as expansion of airport infrastructure, enhanced regional connectivity under the UDAN, induction of additional capacity by airlines and growth in tourism and business travel. (c): Domestic airlines face financial challenges such as volatility in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, exchange rate fluctuations, high operating costs, competitive pricing pressures and supply chain constraints affecting aircraft availability. (d): The Government has taken steps to support fleet expansion and modernization through development of aircraft leasing ecosystem at GIFT City, rationalisation of tax structure for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, infrastructure development at airports, and streamlining of regulatory processes resulting into significant fleet orders placed by incumbent airlines. The process of fleet harmonisation and standardisation of services is a commercial decision of individual airline operator based on their business plan. With the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in March 1994, Indian domestic aviation was deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type and to select the markets and networks they wish to serve and operate.(e): The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme offers financial incentives to airlines through Central/State Government and airport operator concessions, along with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to cover cost-revenue gaps. Airfares for VGF supported RCS seats are capped at subsidized rates for three years, with quarterly indexation. These measures enhance the affordability and sustainability of air travel. ******Annexure Month-wise Passengers carried (in numbers) during the last two years along with annual growth rate Financial year Month Growth in 2023-24 2024-25 2024-25 April 1,28,88,410 1,32,00,048 2.4% May 1,32,14,554 1,37,95,301 4.4% June 1,24,86,601 1,32,05,828 5.8% July 1,21,00,030 1,29,86,105 7.3% August 1,24,22,673 1,31,30,699 5.7% September 1,22,46,549 1,30,27,336 6.4% October 1,26,36,742 1,36,57,193 8.1% November 1,27,35,394 1,42,50,266 11.9% December 1,37,97,352 1,49,26,352 8.2% January 1,31,31,603 1,47,02,387 12.0% February 1,26,47,306 1,41,18,495 11.6% March 1,33,67,468 1,45,41,682 8.8% Total Passengers 15,36,74,682 16,55,41,692 7.7% *****