India's domestic aviation sector had its biggest month ever in May 2026, with record passenger traffic and flight counts. According to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Indian airlines flew over 1.5 crore passengers across more than one lakh domestic flights during the month. Both figures are the highest ever recorded in a single month for domestic aviation. The milestone comes as airlines continue to deal with rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and operational challenges.
May 2026 Sets New Records For Domestic Aviation
May 2026 became the first month in Indian aviation history to cross 1.53 crore domestic passengers and record more than 1.02 lakh domestic flights.
The only other time airlines operated over one lakh domestic flights in a month was in March 2025, when travel demand for the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj pushed flight numbers to 1.02 lakh that month; airlines carried over 1.45 crore passengers.
Before this, the only month to cross the 1.5 crore passenger mark was November 2025, when over 1.52 crore people travelled on 99,276 domestic flights.
Passenger Demand Continues To Grow
Compared to May 2025, domestic departures increased by 4.5 per cent, while passenger traffic grew by 9.5 per cent. Airlines carried over 13 lakh more passengers than they did during the same month last year.
May is traditionally one of the busiest travel months in India, as schools are closed for summer vacations. Along with the November-December festive season, it is one of the country's peak travel periods.
The latest figures are also encouraging for an industry that has spent much of the past year facing geopolitical disruptions and foreign exchange pressures. Last May's numbers were affected by the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.
IndiGo Strengthens Its Lead, Akasa Hits New Milestone
IndiGo remained India's largest airline by a wide margin. The carrier accounted for 68 per cent of the additional passenger traffic added during the month and finished May with a 64.9 per cent domestic market share.
The airline also recorded its best-ever month for domestic operations, falling just 8,952 passengers short of carrying one crore domestic passengers in a single month.
The Air India Group retained the second spot with a 25.6 per cent market share, while Akasa Air strengthened its position as the country's third-largest airline with a 5.8 per cent market share. Akasa also crossed eight lakh passengers in a month for the first time since its launch.
SpiceJet Continues To Struggle
While most airlines benefited from the increase in travel demand, SpiceJet moved in the opposite direction. The airline carried fewer passengers than it did a year ago, causing its domestic market share to fall from 3 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
Its operational performance also remained weak. SpiceJet recorded the lowest On-Time Performance among airlines, with only 26.5 per cent of its flights operating on schedule across India's 10 major airports.
In comparison, IndiGo recorded the best On-Time Performance at 82.8 per cent, while Akasa Air posted the highest passenger load factor at 92.5 per cent.
West Asia Conflict Affected International Travel
The conflict in West Asia pushed up global fuel prices during the month. While the government capped the increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for domestic flights at 25 per cent, international ATF prices continued to follow market rates.
The impact was more visible on overseas travel, with Indian airlines carrying around 6.5 lakh fewer international passengers during the month.
The record-breaking domestic numbers also came in the same month that the Prime Minister urged Indians to voluntarily postpone non-essential foreign travel. It was the first time such a direct appeal had been made.
Despite global uncertainty, the latest DGCA data shows that strong domestic demand continues to power India's aviation sector, making May 2026 the biggest month in the country's aviation history. As the month closed, the record set a clear benchmark for the months ahead.
(With inputs from various sources)
FAQs
Q1. How many domestic passengers flew in India in May 2026?
Indian airlines carried a record 1,53,89,701 domestic passengers in May 2026, making it the highest monthly passenger traffic ever recorded in India.
Q2. How many domestic flights operated in India during May 2026?
A total of 1,02,953 domestic flights operated during May 2026, the highest number of domestic flights ever recorded in a single month.
Q3. Which airline had the largest domestic market share in May 2026?
IndiGo remained India's largest airline with a 64.9 per cent domestic market share, followed by the Air India Group at 25.6 per cent and Akasa Air at 5.8 per cent.
Q4. Why did domestic air travel increase in May 2026?
May is one of India's busiest travel months due to summer school holidays. Strong holiday demand, combined with robust domestic travel, helped airlines achieve record passenger numbers.
Q5. Which airline performed best and which struggled in May 2026?
IndiGo recorded its highest-ever domestic traffic and the best on-time performance, while Akasa Air crossed eight lakh monthly passengers for the first time. SpiceJet, meanwhile, saw its market share fall to 2.5 per cent and recorded the lowest on-time performance.
