Air traffic grew 20% in November

Indian airlines flew 20% more passengers in November than in the previous month as the carriers were allowed to sell more tickets per flight and travellers felt more confident about flying amid the pandemic.

As many as 6.35 million passengers travelled by air in November compared with 5.27 million in the preceding month, data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday showed. The number of passengers, however, declined 51% from a year earlier in November.

Centre allowed airlines to sell seats up to 70% of an aircraft’s capacity on domestic flights during November, which was subsequently increased to 80% in early December, thus boosting travel. Scheduled international flights, however, remain suspended at least till 31 December.