Domestic Flight Services Decline Between Major Cities

Rising fuel costs and increasing airfares are putting pressure on India's aviation sector, with airports in southern India witnessing a significant decline in passenger occupancy. Recently released figures indicate a downturn in domestic air travel compared with the same period last year. The passenger load factor (PLF), which measures the percentage of available seats occupied by passengers, recorded a 12.1% decline at Hyderabad Airport during the first week of November compared with the corresponding period last year. Among nine major airports across the country, Hyderabad recorded the steepest decline, with a reported reduction of 1,58,444 in the seat-occupancy figures. Chennai followed with a decline of 1,05,604 (11.7%), while Ahmedabad recorded a fall of 46,328 (7.7%). Other airports that reported declines included Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Goa, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Rising ticket prices, driven by increasing aviation fuel costs, are being cited as a major reason for the slowdown. The impact of the Russia–Ukraine and US–Iran conflicts on global fuel prices has added to the pressure on airlines. As fares become more expensive, passengers are opting for alternative modes of transport and avoiding air travel unless necessary. With several flights operating with fewer passengers, airlines are reportedly reducing services to limit losses. The impact is also visible on key routes from Hyderabad. The average number of weekly flights from Delhi to Hyderabad has fallen from 408 last year to 322. Services between Hyderabad and Tirupati have dropped sharply from 168 to 82, while flights to Chennai have declined from 190 to 132. Services on the Hyderabad–Patna and Hyderabad–Varanasi routes have also reportedly fallen by more than half.