# Domestic air traffic falls 6.34% in August, IndiGo share drops

2026-09-23T09:38:36+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

India's domestic air passenger traffic fell 6.34% year-on-year to 121.26 lakh in August, according to DGCA data released on Wednesday. IndiGo's market share dropped to 65% from 67.4% in July, while Air India Group's share rose 2.7 percentage points to 26.7%, driven by increased flying from Air India Express. Akasa Air held steady at 5.5%, and SpiceJet declined to 1.2%. IndiGo led on-time performance at 91.5%, followed by Akasa Air at 90.5% and Air India Group at 83.9%. The overall cancellation rate was 1.39%, with SpiceJet recording the highest at 20.92%. Passenger load factors fell across most airlines, with IndiGo at 79.2% and Air India Group at 77%. The DGCA said year-to-January-August traffic was nearly flat at 1,105.30 lakh passengers.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Most sources reported the DGCA data as straight numbers, but Livemint's longer piece added context: Air India's share gain came from capacity returning after retrofits, not rising demand. It noted load factors fell for both big carriers, suggesting more flights did not mean fuller planes. The other outlets led with the headline decline. The difference shows a data story that looks like a simple market shift is really about weak demand. The August load factor figures for IndiGo and Air India will be the next check on whether capacity is overshooting passenger growth.

## Coverage

- thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/domestic-air-passenger-traffic-falls-634-to-12126-lakh-in-august-dgca/article71498649.ece>
  Straight DGCA data release with no interpretation
- ndtvprofit.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtvprofit.com/india/indigo-again-tops-domestic-aviation-with-65-market-share-in-august-air-india-group-second-spice-jet-akasa-air-12085153#publisher=newsstand>
  Brief factual summary of market share and traffic decline
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/companies/air-india-express-aviation-market-dgca-indigo-11790152491962.html>
  Wire-style factual summary with additional cancellation and load factor data
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/industry/india-domestic-air-traffic-declines-6-34-indigo-share-falls-air-india-gains-11790155673060.html>
  Wire-style factual summary with additional cancellation and load factor data

Tags: Air India Group, Akasa Air, DGCA, IndiGo, SpiceJet
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