Domestic airlines will fly 21,941 flights per week this winter, 1.55% fewer than last year's 22,287 weekly flights, despite the fact that this is expected to be the most profitable quarter since airlines resumed service following the pandemic lockdown in 2020.
Highlights
As a result of this capacity shortage, as well as more people travelling, airfares have skyrocketed. Fares on some popular metro lines are nearly 40% higher than they were a year ago.
IndiGo, the market leader, will operate nearly half of all flights this winter, with 10,085 flights per week, 1.54% fewer than last winter.
Domestic airlines will fly 21,941 flights per week this winter, 1.55% fewer than last year’s 22,287 weekly flights, despite the fact that this is expected to be the most profitable quarter since airlines resumed service following the pandemic lockdown in 2020.
This is primarily because airlines have been unable to increase capacity due to a severe clog in the supply chain, particularly with aircraft engine makers such as Pratt and Whitney and CFM International failing to meet demand for the popular narrow body aircraft Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 jets.
Sl. No
Airline
Departures per week
1
Alliance Air
1034
2
Air India
1990
3
Go Air
1390
4
Air Asia India
1462
5
IndiGo
10085
6
SpiceJet
3193
7
Vistara
1941
8
Star Air
153
9
Fly Big
214
10
Akasa Air
479
Total
21,941
Comparative Departure Numbers for WS21 and WS22 below:
Sl. No
Airline
Departures per week as per Winter Schedule 21
Departures per week as per Winter Schedule 22
Growth (%)
1
Alliance Air
911
1034
13.5
2
Air India
2053
1990
-3.07
3
Go Air
2290
1390
-39.3
4
Air Asia India
1393
1462
4.95
5
IndiGo
10243
10085
-1.54
6
SpiceJet
2995
3193
6.61
7
Vistara
1675
1941
15.88
8
Star Air
137
153
11.68
9
Fly Big
116
214
84.48
10
Akasa Air
NA
479
NA
Total
22287*
21941
-1.55
*Trujet and Pawan Hans Suspended Scheduled Operations
As a result of this capacity shortage, as well as more people travelling, airfares have skyrocketed. Fares on some popular metro lines are nearly 40% higher than they were a year ago.
“Most people are flying to celebrate the festivals with their family and friends, resulting in no or fewer flights available,” Nishant Pitti, CEO and cofounder of travel portal EaseMyTrip, said.
“Back-to-back lockdowns in earlier years have increased the urge to travel this year, reflected in the booking rate which is up by 60-70% over last year.”
IndiGo, the market leader, will operate nearly half of all flights this winter, with 10,085 flights per week, 1.54% fewer than last winter.
Go First’s services have been reduced by 39.3% year on year.
SpiceJet plans to operate 3,193 flights per week, a 6.6% increase over its winter schedule for 2021.