Domestic air travel in India up 43% y-o-y

Mumbai: Airline companies in India are likely to fly more than 42,200 domestic flights within India in June, marking a 25% increase in the number of flights, and at 5.7 million, a 43% rise in the number of seats, in comparison to June 2006. These are the findings of OAG, a global data solutions company for the aviation sector and a global partner of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), in its latest survey.

According to the survey, the Mumbai airport is the busiest in the country, followed by New Delhi. The country's capital has posted a 20% growth in the number of flights, and 32% in the number of seats this June, over the same period in 2006.

According to Duncan Alexander, vice-president, business development and industry relations at OAG, worldwide, there has been a growth of 5% in flight frequencies and 6% in passengers, but the growth in India for the month of June has been tremendous.

Meanwhile, carriers like Jet Airways have grabbed a 27% market share in the number of flight  frequencies and seats, Indian Airlines follows with a 17% share, Kingfisher Airlines has a 10% share, Air Deccan 9%, Air Sahara 5%, SpiceJet 5%, Go Air 4% and Indigo 3 %.

The study quotes airline officials as saying that the Indian aviation market is still in its infancy in terms of consumer penetration, and is almost certain to continue enjoying high growth rates.