The total number of passengers carried in the domestic air sector increased by 15.1% month-on-month to 31.34 lakh passengers in April. In the first fourth months of 2017 (Jan to April) the total passengers carried increased by 17% year-on-year to 91.34 lakh passengers.

Indigo continued to be the dominant player in the domestic market and improved its market share to 41.4% during the month from 39.9% in March. The passengers carried by the airline during the month stood at 37.79 lakh.

The country’s second largest full service airline Jet Airways registered a combined market share of 16.12% which is lesser that 17.9% market share the company had in March.

National carrier Air India’s market share during the same period stood flat at 12.9% while SpiceJet’s market share stood at 12.9% when compared to 13.2% in March. Both Jet airways and Air India had flown 13.9 lakh and 11.88 lakh passengers respectively in April. In terms of passenger load factor (PLF) which is one of the parameters to judge an airlines profitability SpiceJet – the country’s second largest no frills carrier – topped the charts with 93.4% PLF. It was followed by AirAsia whose flight occupancy improved to 90.1% from 87.8% in March. Indigo airlines also improved on its occupancy rates during the month to 86.9% in April when compared to 81.6% in the month before.