New Delhi, November 18 (IANS). Domestic passenger traffic is estimated at 14.2 million in October, which is 4.5 percent year-on-year and 12.9 percent more than September. This information was given in the report released on Tuesday.
Rating agency ICRA in its report has maintained a ‘stable’ outlook on the Indian aviation sector and said that domestic passenger traffic is likely to see a growth of 4-6 per cent in FY26. In FY 25 it was 7.6 percent and during this period a total of 16.53 crore passengers traveled by air.
The report said that the increase in the number of passengers is also due to capacity expansion, as the number of domestic departures in October was about 99,816, which is 10.8 percent more on monthly basis and 1.7 percent more on annual basis.
During this period, operational efficiency has also seen improvement and the passenger load factor (PLF) of the industry has increased to 84.7 percent, which is higher than 82.4 percent in October 2024 and 81.4 percent in September 2025.
Growth prospects are expected to remain subdued in the current quarter due to border tensions, global disruptions, travel hesitancy following the June 2025 plane tragedy and recent disruptions related to air traffic control (ATC) operations, the report said.
The report further said that internationally, Indian airlines are expected to carry 28.3 lakh passengers by September 2025, a growth of 5.8 per cent year-on-year.
ICRA expects international passenger traffic for Indian airlines to grow by 13-15 per cent in FY26, supported by expanded international routes and increased aircraft availability.
Meanwhile, rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices continue to challenge airlines’ cost structures.
In November, ATF prices rose 4.4 percent year-on-year and 0.8 percent sequentially compared to October. The report said that fuel accounts for 30-40 per cent of the operating costs of airlines, so the continued rise in prices remains a major matter of concern for the industry.
–IANS
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