Domestic air traffic sees strong recovery

NEW DELHI: The number of passengers who took domestic flights in May rose to 12 million in May, almost six times the number that took flights in the same month last year, although that low base was on account of the Delta-driven second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the summer season seeing a sharp increase in the number of air travellers, the estimated domestic passenger load factor is around 85% as against 49% in May 2021 and 90% in May 2019 (pre-covid), according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data.

The pent-up travel demand has seen international air traffic surpass pre-covid levels by around 24%, with fares spiking north. To be sure, while the number of domestic flights, and also international flights operated by Indian airlines is back to pre-covid levels, international airlines are operating around 85% of the flights they used to pre-pandemic. According to the DGCA report released on Tuesday, domestic airlines carried 47.8 million passengers in the five months to May, as against 31.2 million during the corresponding period of the previous year.

“We have seen a consistent increase in the number of travellers over the last four-five months, with Indians taking domestic flights as well as international flights now,” an Indigo spokesperson said.

According to a report by the ratings agency, ICRA, domestic air travel in May was only 7% lower than pre-covid levels.

“In fact, we are operating more flights now vis-à-vis prepandemic,” a Vistara spokesperson said. The joint venture airline is currently operating flights to and from nine destinations globally.

“It is very encouraging to see such a return of demand for travel after a long break.”

There has also been a spike in prices, largely a function of international capacity constraints.