Jet Airways

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.

Non-stop US-India market continues to shrink with American Airlines ending Chicago-Delhi service

The number of carriers operating direct service between the US and India will decline to two – Air India and United – from 01-Mar-2012 when American Airlines ends its sole service to India, a daily service between Chicago O'Hare-New Delhi. The cancellation of the unprofitable routes comes as American rationalises its network as part of its bankruptcy filing. The carrier stated that the service is being cancelled due to the “historical financial performance of the route and its future outlook given the global economic climate and high oil prices.” The poor financial performance on the route, American's longest at 7484 miles, relates to the impact on yields of competitive pricing as American was able to consistently report high load factors on the route over the past 12 months. 

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.