India's air traffic grows 1.1% domestically, 6.1% internationally in FY26: Report
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Growth said to have continued through 2025–26, when domestic traffic reached 167.4 million and international traffic reached 78.7 million.
India’s aviation sector reportedly grows in FY 2025–26, with passenger traffic increasing across both domestic and international travel, according to AirportSaathi Report.
India’s total air passenger traffic rose 2.7% to 246.1 million in FY2025–26, up from 239.7 million in the previous financial year. Domestic passenger numbers increased 1.1% to 167.4 million, compared with 165.5 million in FY2024–25. International passenger traffic recorded stronger growth of 6.1%, rising from 74.1 million to 78.7 million during the same period.
From 2015–16 to 2018–19, total passenger traffic said to have increased from 135.4 million to 204.4 million. Domestic passenger traffic rose from 85.2 million to 140.3 million, while international traffic grew from 50.2 million to 64.1 million. The decline accelerated in 2020–21, when domestic traffic fell to 53.3 million and international traffic plunged to 8.8 million amid widespread travel restrictions and lockdowns.
By 2023–24, both markets had reportedly surpassed their respective pre-pandemic benchmarks. Growth said to have continued through 2025–26, when domestic traffic reached 167.4 million and international traffic reached 78.7 million. The trend indicates that COVID-19 interrupted, rather than permanently reversed, the long-term growth trajectory of Indian air travel.
Key insights from the report:
1. International traffic experienced a sharper pandemic shock. In 2020–21, international passenger traffic declined by 85.5%, compared with a 62.3% decline in domestic traffic, highlighting the greater contraction in international air travel during the pandemic.
2. The recovery produced exceptionally high growth rates. International traffic grew by 140.9% in 2021–22 and 157.5% in 2022–23, while domestic traffic grew by 58.0% and 61.5%, respectively. These unusually high rates partly reflect the low passenger base during the pandemic.
3. Growth moderated by 2025–26. International passenger traffic grew by 6.1%, compared with 1.1% for domestic traffic. Both markets continued to expand, but at a slower pace than during the post-pandemic rebound.
4. Domestic passengers accounted for 68.0% of the reported passenger total in 2025–26, compared with 32.0% for international passengers.
5. The international share fell from 30.1% in 2019–20 to 14.2% in 2020–21, while the domestic share peaked at 85.8%. By 2025–26, the international share had risen to 32.0%, exceeding its pre-pandemic share of 30.1% in 2019–20. The domestic share, at 68.0%, remained slightly below its 2019–20 level of 69.9%.
6. The reported total increased by 2.7% over 2024–25, according to DGCA statistics. DGCA reported 6.1% growth in international passenger traffic, compared with 1.1% for domestic departing passengers.
7. Passenger traffic had grown consistently before the pandemic, but the sharp decline in 2020–21 interrupted this trend. Both domestic and international passenger traffic surpassed their respective 2018–19 levels by FY 2023–24.
8. Domestic passengers represented 68.0% of the report’s stated passenger total in 2025–26, compared with 32.0% for international passengers.
