The enthusiasm for air travel across India continues to hit new benchmarks. Driven by the summer holiday season and a consistent rise in travel interest, domestic airlines experienced an impressive performance throughout May 2026. According to the latest report released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a total of 15.3 million passengers opted for domestic flights during this month. When compared to the figures recorded in April, this represents an increase of more than 11 percent. Furthermore, this count is nearly 9.5 percent higher than the numbers seen in May of the previous year, underscoring that the demand for air travel in the country remains firmly on an upward trajectory.
As per the specific data points provided by the DGCA, the number of passengers who utilized domestic flights in April 2026 stood at approximately 13.8 million. The jump to 15.3 million in May serves as a very encouraging indicator for the airline industry. When looking at the aggregate data from January to May 2026, over 72.9 million people have already traveled via domestic flights, which marks a stronger performance compared to the corresponding period from the previous year.
Indigo Maintains Leadership as Air India Group Grows Market Share
Regarding market share, Indigo continues to hold its position as the largest airline currently operating in India. However, the latest figures show a slight dip in Indigo’s market share to 64.9 percent. In contrast, the Air India Group has strengthened its standing by capturing a 25.6 percent market share. Meanwhile, the market share for Akasa Air remained stable at 5.8 percent, whereas SpiceJet saw a decline, with its market presence now reduced to 2.5 percent.
Indigo Leads in On-Time Performance
In terms of maintaining schedules, Indigo once again emerged as the top performer. Analysis of flight operations across 10 major airports revealed that 82.8 percent of Indigo’s flights arrived or departed on time in May. This puts Akasa Air in second place with 78.3 percent, followed by the Air India Group in third place with a 74.5 percent on-time performance rate. Conversely, SpiceJet’s performance in this category was notably weak, with only 26.5 percent of its flights recorded as operating on schedule.
Impact of Delays and Cancellations on Passengers
While passenger volume grew significantly, some travelers faced disruptions due to flight delays and cancellations. Over 63,700 passengers were affected by flight cancellations during May. To address the inconvenience caused, airlines provided financial assistance and compensation exceeding 7 million rupees. Furthermore, more than 177,000 passengers experienced flight delays, for which airlines incurred costs totaling over 42.4 million rupees in compensation. Additionally, around 900 passengers were denied boarding, necessitating roughly 9.9 million rupees in compensation and the provision of other necessary amenities by the airlines.
