India's Domestic Air Passenger Traffic Declines Amid Supply Constraints
India's domestic air passenger traffic declines in Feb amid supply constraints
MintImage: Mint
In February 2026, Indian airlines transported 1.4 crore domestic passengers, a decrease from 1.5 crore in January, primarily due to supply constraints and weaker travel sentiment. Despite the decline, the passenger numbers remained consistent compared to the previous year, highlighting ongoing challenges in the aviation sector.
- 01Domestic passenger traffic fell to 1.4 crore in February 2026.
- 02Capacity deployment by airlines was 8.8% lower than in January.
- 03IndiGo retained a dominant market share of 63.1%, though slightly down from January.
- 04Air India increased its market share to 27%.
- 05Supply chain disruptions and engine issues continue to affect fleet operations.
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In February 2026, Indian airlines carried 1.4 crore domestic passengers, a decrease from 1.5 crore in January but unchanged from the previous year. The decline is attributed to lower aircraft availability and weaker travel sentiment, as noted by CA Ranganathan, a former member of the Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council. The rating agency Icra reported that the airlines' capacity deployment was 8.8% lower than in January, with domestic departures totaling 89,616. Supply chain disruptions, particularly related to Pratt & Whitney engines, have led to the grounding of 117 aircraft, which constitutes 13-15% of the total industry fleet. Despite these challenges, IndiGo maintained a market share of 63.1%, while Air India increased its share to 27%. The previous year's passenger spike was influenced by the Kumbh Mela, creating a higher comparison base this year.
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The decline in domestic air passenger traffic may lead to reduced flight availability and potentially higher fares, affecting travelers' plans and budgets.
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