IndiGo widens lead on international routes

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI : Low-cost airline IndiGo has almost doubled its share of India’s international flights in the first quarter of FY24 from the corresponding pre-pandemic period, expanding its lead in this lucrative segment. Between April and June, IndiGo, the largest domestic airline, has achieved a 17.2% market share, among both Indian and foreign airlines operating on international routes, up significantly from 9.6% in the June quarter of 2019, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In comparison, foreign aviation giant Emirates’ share of total international passengers dropped from 9.7% to 8.6% during the period under consideration.

Etihad’s share also fell to 2.6%, from 4.6% earlier. Domestic rival Air India also increased its market share from 11.6% to 12.5% during the period, but its subsidiary, Air India Express, witnessed a decline in its market share in the June quarter, from over 8% in the corresponding 2019 period to 7.8%. The covid pandemic broke out in early 2020, grounding air traffic for an extended period, and 2019 was the last year when airlines operated under normal conditions.

During April-June 2023, the number of international passengers were at 15.6 million, an increase of 23,000 compared to April-June 2019. According to industry insiders, the surge in air passenger traffic for IndiGo reflects a growing preference among Indians opting for overseas travel to be satisfied with no-frills services for short-to-medium haul destinations. It’s also noteworthy to compare the top three international players in the Indian market.