IndiGo

IndiGo stands out as the only profitable carrier in India

IndiGo is an anomaly in the Indian market – it is the only profitable domestic airline this financial year (ending 31-Mar-2012). The carrier is however, like its peers, feeling the pressure in a tough operating environment. President Aditya Ghosh this month noted the carrier would see a decline in FY2012 profits, with the results substantially impacted by high fuel costs.

"Margins were under huge pressure because average price of fuel is now higher than what it was in 2009. There has been a growth in revenue and we will turn out to be profitable at end of the year. It will be much smaller profit than we have done in the previous year,'' he said in an interview with Business Standard. The carrier reported an 18% increase in profit to INR6.5 billion (USD130 million) in FY2011 but expects the FY2012 result to be a "fraction" of this figure. "For us profitability means that we are able to get spare parts on time, pay salaries on time, maintain integrity of schedules and plan for growth," he stated.

The world's biggest airlines cautious with capacity growth in March

The world's airlines are being cautious with their capacity deployment in 2012, the latest figures from Innovata show. Carriers increased their capacity by 3.6% during in March, which is slightly above IATA's latest forecast for full-year capacity growth.

India domestic passenger growth slows to 8% in Dec-2011; 2012 growth to slow from 16.6% in 2011

India’s domestic air passenger growth slowed to 8% in Dec-2011 to less than half the pace of growth experienced in calendar 2011 and down from the 17-22% growth rates seen between Jun-2011 and Oct-2011. While passenger numbers in India’s domestic market have seen growth now for 31 consecutive months, the result for Dec-2011 marks the end of 16 consecutive months of double-digit growth. This single-digit growth in the peak month of Dec-2011 (to 5.63 million passengers) is a sign that slowing economic growth is affecting air travel and reflects impending capacity caution by some of the nation’s largest players.

India’s domestic passenger numbers increased 16.6% to 60.7 million passengers in 2011, averaging out at 5.1 million passengers per month, and up 74% from 2006 levels. The largest stand-alone carrier was IndiGo with a 19.5% market share, with IndiGo also the fastest growing carrier in 2011.

Robust growth in India domestic market fails to translate into profits

India’s domestic aviation traffic posted double digit growth of 11.1% in Nov-2011 to reach 5.4 million passengers for the month. Growth has slowed from the 17-22% rates seen since Jun-2011, however India remains one of the fastest growing domestic markets in the world, with growth expected to continue despite the current financial challenges experienced by key players in the Indian aviation market.

In the first 11 months of 2011, domestic passenger numbers increased 17.6% to 55.0 million passengers, averaging out at 5 million passengers per month. India’s domestic market has seen passenger growth now for 30 consecutive months, with 15 consecutive months of double-digit growth. Domestic traffic has increased by 85% in the past five years since Nov-2006, with domestic traffic now 41% above Nov-2007 levels, 80% above Nov-2008 levels and 32% above Nov-2009 levels. 

JAL Airline of the Year and John Borghetti CEO of the Year - CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence

Japan Airlines; Mr John Borghetti of Virgin Australia; Changi Airport; IndiGo; SilkAir; Ibaraki Airport; SITA and Malaysia Airlines; Christchurch Airport and Sendai Airport take top honours

Japanese aviation is the big winner in this year’s CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence, reflecting the beginning of a new era in aviation in Japan and North Asia. Japan Airlines has been named CAPA Asia Pacific Airline of the Year 2011, while Ibaraki Airport near Tokyo was named Low Cost Airport of the Year and Sendai Airport received a Special Airport Leadership Award from CAPA in recognition of its community and industry leadership and teamwork in responding to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster this year. Singapore aviation was also strongly represented, as Singapore Changi Airport and SilkAir were both major category winners.