February domestic air passenger traffic up 14.8 percent in India

New Delhi, April 2:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported on Thursday that India’s domestic passenger traffic increased by 14.8 percent in February, 2015.

“India’s domestic demand soared 14.8 percent in February — strongest worldwide,” IATA said in a statement.

“India’s domestic demand soared 14.8 percent in February compared to a year ago. Market demand began to improve in the latter part of 2014, partly owing to market stimulation, and that has continued in 2015,” the statement said.

According to IATA, India was followed by Brazil, China, the US and Australia, as countries having highest passenger demand in February.

According to IATA’s year-to-date figures for 2015, India’s domestic travel demand grew 16.7 percent.

Globally, domestic travel demand rose 5.3 percent in February compared to February 2014.

Earlier, data furnished by the civil aviation ministry, showed that domestic air passenger traffic increased by 21.63 percent in February to 60.16 lakh passengers — up from 49.46 lakh in the corresponding month last year.

“Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-February 2015 were 122.61 lakh as against 100.93 lakh during the corresponding period of previous year, thereby registering a growth of 21.48 percent,” Indian regulator DGCA had said in its monthly statistical statement.

Low-cost carrier IndiGo achieved the highest market share at 37.1 percent followed by Jet Airways (19.8), Air India (17.8), SpiceJet (9.2), GoAir (8.9) and JetLite (4.5) percent).

AirAsia India reported a market share of 1.2 percent, Air Costa (1.00) and Tata’s full service passenger carrier Vistara (0.5). IANS