The pandemic was a terrible period for many of us. Some people lost their jobs, had to quit education and whatnot! Additionally, the tourism and aviation industries suffered the side effects of the pandemic. Due to isolation, flights were cancelled and this resulted in a massive dip in the revenue generated by tourism. However, post-pandemic, the conditions are getting better as India’s domestic air traffic is witnessing growth!
India’s Domestic Air Traffic
भारतीय नागर विमानन क्षेत्र नित नए कीर्तिमान स्थापित कर रहा है – कोविड-उपरांत, आसमान छूती घरेलू हवाई यात्रियों की संख्या भारत के बढ़ते विकास और समृद्धि का संकेत है। pic.twitter.com/Iobij1asnk
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) May 1, 2023
Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted about India’s civil aviation sector. According to him, the sector is setting a new record post-pandemic. The country’s domestic air traffic is skyrocketing! In just the first three months of 2023, domestic airlines handled more than 37.5 million passengers. According to figures from the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, this represented a rise of 51.7% from the previous year. According to a BBC report, throughout Covid, there was no growth for two years. This repressed demand is currently snowballing, as we can see.
Also Read: Pet Cat Goes Missing At Delhi Airport. The Owner, An Air India Passenger Blames The Airline
Analysis Of The Aviation Analyst
According to aviation analyst Mark Martin, since the pandemic, there has also been a significant rise in the number of people taking their first flight. He continued by saying that as disposable incomes rise in Asia’s third-largest economy, India’s aviation traffic has traditionally been expanding twice as quickly as the nation’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Before this, a report from the industry group International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed that domestic traffic in India had remained close to pre-pandemic levels and was only 2.2% lower than February 2019 levels. In comparison to nations like the US, China, Japan, Australia, and Brazil, India had the top domestic market in terms of the passenger load factor, or the percentage of seats filled by airlines, at 81.6%.
Nevertheless, despite the industry’s healthy recovery, several problems persist, including higher costs for aviation turbine fuel, the rupee’s decline against the US dollar, and stranded aircraft. Due to problems with Pratt & Whitney engines, more than 50 aircraft of major Indian airlines including IndiGo and Go First have been grounded for several months. According to rating agency ICRA, India is expected to receive over 1,100 fleet deliveries over the following few years.
Also Read: These Top 7 Airlines In The World Have The Largest Fleet
The largest contract in the history of international aviation, for 470 planes from Airbus and Boeing, was announced by Tata Group-owned Air India earlier in February.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva