Covid-hit domestic airline passengers in 2020 similar to 2014-levels

Indian airlines carried 63 million passengers during 2020, which is not just 56.3% less than 2019 but also lower than the number of passengers airlines flew in 2014. COVID-hit aviation sector had to bear the brunt of two-month long lockdown as well as decline in travel due to the pandemic.

During the month of December, airlines carried 7.3 million passengers that is 43.7% less than the same month in 2019. The government announced a lockdown leading to grounding of airlines for about two months – airlines restarted operations during May-end.

Airlines have been registering increase in travel and new flights with the government regulating reopening of the aviation market. Airlines are currently allowed to operate 80% of pre-COVID domestic flights on regulated fares that stay till March 31, 2021.