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Business India News Updated Oct 27, 2026

IndiGo carries 77.30 lakh as domestic air traffic falls 6.49 pc in September

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IndiGo carried 77.30 lakh domestic passengers in September, holding a 65.4 per cent market share as total traffic fell 6.49 per cent to 1.18 crore. The Air India Group remained second with 31.65 lakh passengers and a 26.8 per cent share, while Akasa Air held 5.6 per cent. SpiceJet's market share slipped to 0.6 per cent, continuing a month-on-month decline seen since August.

India's domestic air passenger traffic falls 6.5 pc in September

New Delhi, Oct 27

India's domestic aviation sector witnessed a further moderation in passenger demand in September, with domestic air passenger traffic falling 6.49 per cent to 1.18 crore passengers from the previous month, according to the latest data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

IndiGo continued to dominate the domestic skies, carrying 77.30 lakh passengers during the month and commanding a market share of 65.4 per cent.

The airline maintained a significant lead over all competitors and accounted for nearly two-thirds of the country's domestic air traffic.

The Air India Group remained the second-largest player in the market, carrying 31.65 lakh passengers and securing a market share of 26.8 per cent.

Together, IndiGo and the Air India Group accounted for more than 92 per cent of total domestic passenger traffic during September.

Akasa Air retained its position as the third-largest domestic carrier, transporting 6.64 lakh passengers and holding a market share of 5.6 per cent.

SpiceJet continued to face challenges, with its market share slipping to 0.6 per cent after carrying around 73,000 passengers during the month.

The September figures follow a similar trend witnessed in August, when domestic passenger traffic declined 6.34 per cent month-on-month to 1.21 crore passengers.

During that month, IndiGo carried 78.87 lakh passengers with a 65 per cent market share, while the Air India Group flew 32.32 lakh passengers and held a 26.7 per cent share of the market.

Akasa Air had transported 6.68 lakh passengers in August, accounting for 5.5 per cent of the market, while SpiceJet carried 1.40 lakh passengers and held a market share of 1.2 per cent.

Domestic passenger traffic grew 13 per cent year-on-year to 153.6 million passengers in FY24 before moderating to 7.7 per cent growth in FY25, when traffic reached 165.5 million passengers.

Growth slowed further to just 1.2 per cent in FY26, with passenger numbers rising to 167.5 million.

The moderation has become more pronounced in the current financial year. Domestic passenger traffic declined 5 per cent year-on-year in April 2026 before rebounding with 9 per cent growth in May.

However, demand weakened again thereafter, with traffic falling 1 per cent in June, 5 per cent in July, 6 per cent in August and 7 per cent in September.

Ten Out of Ten by Anosh Abraham – Read on Kindle

— IANS

Reader’s Guide · AI-assisted, based only on the report above

What the report makes clear: DGCA data shows how domestic air traffic and each airline's market share moved in September.

Still open: The report does not yet say what is driving the month-on-month fall in passenger demand.

Another way to look at it: A shrinking market with two carriers holding over 92 per cent shapes how much choice flyers on smaller airlines have.

What would make you choose a smaller airline over the two dominant carriers?

Reader Voices

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