India's aviation sector witnessed a dramatic paradox in the closing months of 2025. The country's largest carrier, IndiGo, achieved its highest-ever monthly passenger traffic in November, only to face an unprecedented operational collapse in December that brought its services to a near standstill at major metros.
Record Highs Amidst Rising Pressure
Data released by the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), reveals a surprising trend. Despite its market share dipping sequentially by 2% from October to November 2025, IndiGo flew a record 96.93 lakh passengers domestically in November. This figure not only surpassed its performance for the year but also beat its previous all-time high of 96.15 lakh passengers recorded in December 2024.
This remarkable achievement came after IndiGo substantially increased its domestic schedule with the start of the winter schedule on October 26, 2025. Interestingly, the airline operated fewer flights in November (59,438) compared to October (61,364). The secret to carrying more passengers with fewer flights was a significant jump in load factor, which measures seat occupancy. IndiGo's load factor soared from 82.4% in October to 88.7% in November.
An Industry-Wide Surge
The passenger boom was not limited to IndiGo. The Air India group, comprising Air India and Air India Express, also recorded its highest domestic passenger count in November. The group carried 40.75 lakh passengers, securing a 26.7% market share. Its load factor also saw a healthy increase from 77.3% to 87.5% between October and November.
Similarly, SpiceJet had its best month of 2025, transporting 5.6 lakh passengers. Its market share climbed from 2.6% to 3.7%, aided by capacity addition through wet-leased aircraft.
The December Meltdown and Its Impact
The celebratory mood was short-lived. In December, IndiGo experienced a severe operational breakdown, leading to a near ground stop at major airports for a day. This meltdown, described as unprecedented for a well-capitalised carrier, triggered investigations from the regulator, the ministry, and even the Competition Commission of India (CCI). While the ministry has received the regulator's report, it has not been made public.
The timing of the crisis was particularly unfortunate. December traffic was expected to remain robust, fuelled not just by residual Diwali holiday travel but also by the peak wedding season and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) traffic. News reports highlighted the human cost, with stories of newlyweds attending their receptions via video call and guests missing wedding functions due to the cancellations.
The growth rate for domestic air travel in the first eleven months of 2025 stood at 4.26%. While the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates air travel grows at twice the GDP rate, and India's GDP growth has been above 7%, capacity constraints have moderated passenger growth. Indian carriers face long wait times for new aircraft due to global production and certification issues.
As a result, December 2025 was unable to crack a new high for monthly traffic. India had closed 2024 with 16.13 crore domestic passengers. By the end of November 2025, the count was 15.26 crore. December will see fewer passengers than December 2024 but is certain to cross 87 lakh, ensuring that 2025 will be the best year ever for Indian civil aviation, marking the third consecutive year of surpassing previous records, albeit below its full potential.
