India’s Domestic Air Travel Soars to 16.54 Crore in FY25: ICRA Report

New Delhi: India’s domestic aviation sector witnessed robust growth in FY25, with passenger traffic reaching 16.54 crore—a 7.6% increase compared to the previous fiscal year and 16.8% above pre-pandemic figures from FY20, which stood at approximately 14.15 crore, according to a new report by credit rating agency ICRA.

Indian airlines also saw a significant uptick in international traffic, carrying 3.38 crore passengers during the same period. This marks a year-on-year growth of 14.1% and a substantial 49% rise compared to FY20’s international passenger numbers of 2.27 crore.

In April 2025 alone, domestic travel volumes were estimated at 1.45 crore, reflecting a 10.2% jump over April 2024. Airlines expanded their capacity accordingly, with deployment rising by 6.9% compared to the same month last year. The sector also reported a strong annual passenger load factor (PLF) of 86%, indicating sustained demand and efficient operational performance.

February 23 marked a record-breaking day for Indian aviation, as 5,35,343 travellers took to the skies—driven in part by pilgrimage-related travel around the Maha Kumbh event in Prayagraj.

Looking ahead, ICRA has maintained a ‘stable’ outlook for the sector, projecting domestic air traffic to rise by 7–10% and international passenger volumes to grow between 15–20% in FY26.