India’s domestic air passenger traffic declined 6.49 per cent month on month to 11.8 mn in September, according to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). IndiGo retained its leading position, carrying nearly two-thirds of domestic passengers, while the Air India Group remained the second-largest operator.

IndiGo held a 65.4 per cent market share and transported 7.73 mn passengers during the month. The Air India Group accounted for 26.8 per cent of the market, carrying 3.165 mn passengers, based on data from the aviation regulator.

Akasa Air ranked third with a 5.6 per cent market share and carried 664,000 passengers. SpiceJet’s share declined to 0.6 per cent, while its passenger numbers stood at approximately 73,000.

The September decline followed a similar contraction in August, when domestic passenger traffic fell 6.34 per cent month on month to 12.1 mn. IndiGo held a 65 per cent share in August, carrying 7.887 mn passengers, while the Air India Group had a 26.7 per cent share and transported 3.232 mn passengers. Akasa Air’s share was 5.5 per cent, with 668,000 passengers, while SpiceJet held a 1.2 per cent share and carried 140,000 passengers.

India’s domestic aviation sector has moderated after several years of rapid expansion. Passenger traffic growth slowed from double digits to low single digits before turning negative in recent months. Traffic rose 13 per cent year on year to 153.6 mn in fiscal 2024 and increased 7.7 per cent to 165.5 mn in fiscal 2025. In fiscal 2026, it grew 1.2 per cent to 167.5 mn. The weakness continued into the current financial year, with traffic declining 5 per cent year on year in April 2026, recovering 9 per cent in May, and then falling 1 per cent in June, 5 per cent in July, 6 per cent in August and 7 per cent in September.