1. On November 17, 2024, Indian aviation hit a historic milestone, carrying over 5 lakh passengers in a single day.
2. A total of 5,05,412 domestic passengers were flown.
3. Airlines operated 3,173 domestic departures to achieve this record.
New Delhi, Nov 18: On November 17, 2024, Indian aviation achieved a historic milestone as airlines collectively carried over 5 lakh domestic passengers in a single day for the first time ever.
A total of 5,05,412 passengers were flown across 3,173 domestic departures. This marks the culmination of a two-week surge in air traffic, which saw daily peaks, with November 8 recording 4.9 lakh passengers, November 9 reporting 4.96 lakh, and subsequent days seeing similar increases, peaking on November 17.
This impressive feat comes after a relatively subdued October, leading up to Diwali. IndiGo, which had reported a loss after seven consecutive profitable quarters in its Q2-FY25 results just before Diwali, had previously mentioned that yields had normalized following a period of high yields.
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The surge in passenger numbers following Diwali indicates that air traffic is picking up after the festive season, driven by the wedding season, along with a notable shift from school holiday-related travel to travel centered around festivals.
High Fares, High Load Factors, But Limited Flights
Despite the surge in passenger numbers, the total number of flights deployed has hovered around 3,161 per day this month, slightly higher than the previous month’s average but still below the number of flights operated during the peak Diwali period.
On November 12, following the merger of Vistara with Air India, some flights between metro cities were upgraded to Dreamliners by the newly combined airline, temporarily increasing capacity.
This move came at a time when the airline had canceled several international flights, resulting in an overall increase in seat deployment, even with a relatively stable number of daily flights.
The combination of high fares, increased load factors, and strategic flight adjustments signals a robust recovery and growth trajectory for Indian aviation, as the industry adapts to evolving demand patterns while managing operational challenges.
