Domestic air traffic sees strong growth in October

NEW DELHI: India’s domestic air traffic experienced a robust growth in October, as per the latest traffic analysis of the International Air Transport Association. As per IATA, domestic traffic in the country grew at 11.5% in October, slightly higher than the growth reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) which was 10.7%. IATA said that airlines have experienced substantial volatility in traffic and is likely that the increase is a result of unusually low volumes a year ago rather than growth in October.

According to IATA’s analysis, average load factors during the month was 72.1%, significantly higher than DGCA’s data which stated average load factors were 69%.

As per IATA’s analysis, India’s traffic growth was second only to China where domestic air traffic grew at 12.3% in October. However, in terms of load factors, China was far ahead with average load factors of 80.9%. Global air passenger traffic also showed a growth in October. IATA stated that Asia-Pacific carriers continued their “solid performance” with a 7.8% rise in October, the strongest amongst the big three regions including North America and Europe. “In 2013, the airline industry will carry more than three billion passengers in a year for the first time,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general.