Domestic Air Travel Surges as Indian Airlines Carry 15.3 Million Passengers in May

India’s domestic aviation sector continued its strong growth momentum in May, with airlines transporting 15.3 million passengers across the country, according to the latest data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The passenger count represented an 11% increase over April, when domestic carriers flew around 13.8 million travelers. The steady rise highlights the growing demand for air travel, driven by business activity, tourism and seasonal travel.

IndiGo maintained its position as the country’s largest airline, accounting for 64.9% of the domestic market during the month. Air India followed with a 25.6% market share, while Akasa Air secured 5.8% and SpiceJet held 2.5%.

Between January and May, India’s domestic airlines carried approximately 72.9 million passengers, compared with 71.5 million during the same period last year, reflecting continued year-on-year growth in passenger traffic.

The DGCA data also showed that IndiGo led the industry in on-time performance, achieving an on-time arrival rate of 82.8%. Akasa Air ranked second with 78.3%, followed by Air India at 74.5%.

Despite the positive growth, flight cancellations affected around 63,000 passengers during the reporting period. Airlines collectively paid approximately ₹70.32 lakh in compensation to affected travelers, as required under applicable passenger protection norms.

Industry experts expect domestic air travel to remain strong in the coming months, supported by expanding airline networks, increasing connectivity and sustained demand from both leisure and business passengers.