IndiGo misplaced practically 4 proportion factors of home market share in December after mass flight cancellations and a pointy lower in day by day departures, ceding floor to rival Air India Group, information launched by the aviation regulator confirmed.
The nation’s largest airline noticed its market share fall to 59.6% in December from 63.6% in November, in line with month-to-month site visitors information from the Directorate Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This marked IndiGo’s lowest month-to-month market share previously two years.
In contrast, Tata-backed Air India Group gained over three proportion factors through the month, rising as the most important beneficiary of IndiGo’s operational disruption.
December’s site visitors information underscore how operational reliability is more and more shaping aggressive dynamics in India’s aviation market, with disruptions shortly translating into misplaced market share—even for the nation’s dominant provider.
Disruption fallout
InterGlobe Aviaition-owned IndiGo suffered an operational meltdown within the first week of December with over 4500 flight cancellations, that left lakhs of passengers stranded at airports throughout the nation.
The mass cancellations had been primarily triggered by the introduction of latest pilot relaxation guidelines and stricter night-time flying hour normsforcing the Gurugram-based airline to chop scheduled home departures by about 10%.
The affect was seen for a second straight month. IndiGo had already misplaced round two proportion factors of market share in November, even earlier than the December disruptions peaked.
Passenger numbers slide
Passenger volumes mirrored the loss in capability. IndiGo carried 85.23 lakh passengers in December, down 12% sequentially from 96.93 lakh in November, and 11% decrease year-on-year. The airline had ferried 96.15 lakh passengers in December 2024.
Regardless of the December decline, IndiGo nonetheless ended 2025 with the next annual market share of 64%, in contrast with 61.9% in 2024, DGCA information confirmed.
On a full-year foundation, the airline carried 1,068.64 lakh passengers in 2025, a 7% enhance over 999.04 lakh passengers in 2024.
Air India beneficial properties floor
The Air India Group, which incorporates Air India and Air India Specific, recorded a 29.6% market share in December, up by three proportion factors sequentially. This was the group’s highest month-to-month market share previously 12 months, in line with DGCA information.
For 2025, Air India Group ended with a 27% market share, marking its first full yr of mixed operations following the Tata Group’s consolidation of Air India and Air India Specific.
SNV Aviation-owned Akasa Air, the nation’s third-largest airline by income, maintained a 5.2% market share in December, broadly unchanged from the earlier month. For 2025, Akasa’s market share stood at round 5.1%, in contrast with 4.6% in 2024.
Total, India’s home airways carried 1,669.46 lakh passengers in 2025, reflecting a 3.48% development over the earlier yr. Nevertheless, the tempo of development has slowed sharply, practically halving from the 6.12% development recorded in 2024, when airways carried 1,613.31 lakh passengers.