Domestic air travel in India slowed in April 2026 as passenger numbers fell under the pressure of rising costs and weaker demand. Airlines carried 1.38 crore passengers during the month, which was 4.2% lower than March and 3.47% less than April last year. Annual growth was almost flat at 0.06%, showing that demand has not picked up strongly.
IndiGo strengthened its lead in the market, increasing its share to 65% from 63.3% in March. The Air India Group slipped to 24.7% from 26.2%. Akasa Air improved slightly to 5.8%, while SpiceJet dropped to 3.4%. Alliance Air shrank further to 0.3%.
Operational performance also became a concern. IndiGo recorded the best on‑time performance at 88.5%, followed by Air India Group at 82.4% and Akasa Air at 81.4%. SpiceJet struggled with punctuality, managing only 31.2%.
Passenger complaints rose as delays and cancellations affected thousands of travellers. More than 1.35 lakh passengers faced delays, with airlines paying compensation worth ₹2.41 crore. Around 77,000 passengers were hit by cancellations, leading to payouts of ₹2.04 crore. In addition, 641 passengers were denied boarding and received ₹57.65 lakh in compensation.
The month highlighted how higher fuel costs and softer demand can quickly affect the aviation sector. While IndiGo consolidated its dominance, rivals faced challenges in punctuality and customer satisfaction. Travellers may need to plan with extra buffer time and keep an eye on airline performance before booking.
