India Sees 8.79% Rise in Air Passengers in March 2025, DGCA Reports

New Delhi, India — India’s aviation sector witnessed a robust surge in passenger traffic this March, with nearly 1.45 crore (14.5 million) domestic travelers taking to the skies. This marks an 8.79% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Domestic Airlines Carry Over 1.45 Crore Passengers in March

In its monthly report, the DGCA confirmed that domestic airlines carried 145.42 lakh passengers in March 2025, up from 133.68 lakh passengers recorded in March 2024. This growth highlights the continuing recovery and expansion of India’s aviation market.

Leading the pack, IndiGo transported 93.1 lakh passengers, achieving a market share of 64%. The Air India Group — which includes full-service carrier Air India and low-cost carrier Air India Express — accounted for 38.8 lakh passengers, securing a 26.7% market share.

Akasa Air and SpiceJet Maintain Market Presence

Emerging player Akasa Air served 7.2 lakh passengers in March 2025, securing a 5% market share, while SpiceJet carried 4.8 lakh passengers, holding 3.3% of the market.

IndiGo also led in on-time performance (OTP) with an impressive 88.1% rate, followed closely by Akasa Air at 86.9%. Air India Group and SpiceJet posted OTP scores of 82% and 72.1%, respectively. These figures were calculated across the major metro airports of Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

Aviation Sector Poised for Further Growth

The surge in air travel reflects rising demand and a growing reliance on aviation for domestic connectivity. As airlines enhance services and punctuality improves, industry experts anticipate further acceleration in passenger numbers throughout 2025.

India’s aviation market continues to rank among the fastest-growing globally, driven by strong economic fundamentals, increased air connectivity, and competitive pricing strategies by carriers.