IndiGo overtakes Air India group in international passengers after June crash

IndiGo has, for the first time, carried more international passengers than the combined Air India and Air India Express network in the July–September 2025 quarter, according to new DGCA data. The shift comes after Air India reduced flights by about 15% on its long-haul routes in the weeks following the June 12 AI 171 Dreamliner crash, which killed 260 people and led to a brief dip in passenger confidence.

IndiGo clocked 41.36 lakh international passengers in the three-month period, marginally higher than the 41 lakh flown by the two Tata-owned carriers. Air India’s temporary reduction in wide-body operations and hesitation among travellers to fly the Boeing 787s contributed to the change in trend.

Domestic hit, global steady

The regulator’s data, as cited by TOI's Saurabh Sinha, also highlights IndiGo’s contrasting performance during this month’s large-scale disruption. Between December 1 and 9, the carrier cancelled only 2.4% of its 2,702 international flights, while nearly a quarter of its domestic flights were withdrawn in the same period. DGCA is examining why the airline ensured global services remained largely intact even as its domestic network faced significant cancellations.

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IndiGo has crossed Air India in standalone international traffic earlier. After Jet Airways’ shutdown in April 2019, IndiGo became the largest Indian carrier flying abroad. Until then, Jet and Air India occupied the top two positions, followed by Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet.

The next few quarters may bring more shifts. Air India is preparing to withdraw several older Boeing wide-body aircraft for refurbishment or return to lessors, which will temporarily reduce its long-haul capacity. Meanwhile, the aviation ministry is finalising a mandatory cut of at least 10% in IndiGo’s flights to address recent operational lapses. Details on how this reduction will be divided between domestic and international routes are still awaited.

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For Air India, the Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad marked the most severe setback in decades. The incident, involving a Boeing 787, led many passengers to avoid the airline for several weeks, particularly on routes using the same aircraft type.