Domestic air travel picks up again, up 1.59% in March

The data also indicated a growth in capacity & demand across industry for first time since last April

Domestic air travel showed positive growth in March for the first time in several months,  according to the data released by Directorate General of Civil Aviation today.

Domestic airlines carried 51.89 lakh passengers as against 51.08 lakh fliers in March 2012 which is a modest increase of 1.59%.

The data also indicated a growth in capacity and demand across industry for first time since last April.

IndiGo remained the largest carrier by market share accounting for 27.4% of traffic  and  Air India recorded the highest load factor registering 80.9% loads.

This is impressive considering the national carrier's load factors have been the lowest amongst airlines for several months and have been in a cause of concern for the airline management and civil aviation ministry. IndiGo reported load factor of 79% and was followed by GoAir and SpiceJet.

Jet Airways came behind IndiGo in the market share carrying 23.8%. SpiceJet was third with 20.8% and Air India fourth with 20.4%.