Indian Domestic Passenger Traffic 49.6% Lower In November, Says IATA

Domestic passenger traffic growth in India was 49.6% lower in November last year as compared to the corresponding month in 2019, said global airlines body IATA on Thursday.

"In India, domestic RPKs contracted by 49.6% year-on-year in November vs. 55.6% fall in October. A further improvement is expected in the near-term as more schools and businesses reopen," said a report issued by the International Air Transport Association.

The IATA, which represents around 290 airlines comprising 82% of global air traffic, measures passenger growth in revenue passenger kilometres, which is calculated by multiplying the number of passengers to the distance travelled by them.

Scheduled domestic passenger flights resumed in India on May 25 last year after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Currently, Indian carriers are permitted to operate 80% of their pre-Covid domestic flights.