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.
