Domestic airlines registered a 28.03% growth in passengers flown during March compared to that a year ago, data released by the aviation regulator showed. As per the data, released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday, Indian carriers carried 11.6 million passengers during the month, up from 9.0 million in March 2017.
As a result, all key scheduled carriers flew their planes with over 80% of their seats full. Gurgaon-based SpiceJet continued to maintain its pole position in terms of load factor by flying its planes 95% full, followed by IndiGo, which flew its planes with 89 % seats full despite problems with its Airbus 320 (neo) aircraft.
Vistara, flies its planes in a three-class configuration – economy, premium economy and business, was third by flying its planes with 88.2% seats full.
“Clocking 95% occupancy in the traditionally lean travel month of March is an achievement that we are proud of. For three years in a row, SpiceJet has flown with the highest load factors in the Indian aviation market. For 35 months in a row our loads have been in excess of 90% — a feat unparalleled in global aviation history and a milestone that we are proud of,” Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Sales and Revenue Officer at SpiceJet was quoted in a statement.
In terms of operating flights on time, Jet Airways improved its performance after staying lowest in the ladder for the past five months by operating 75.2.2% of its flights on time, IndiGo topped the list by operating 84.1% of its flights on time. SpiceJet was second, having operated 83.9% of its flights on time followed by Vistara that operated 83% of its flights on time.
IndiGo remained the market leader in terms of passenger carriage, by flying 39.5% of the total passengers during the month of March. Jet Airways followed IndiGo in terms of market share, by flying 16.6% of the passengers flown during the month. SpiceJet was the third largest carrier in terms of market share, accounting for 13.7% of the passengers flown during the month.
