Domestic passenger numbers in December 2009 rose 34.8 per cent to 4.5 million from 3.3 million in the same month in the previous year. This is the highest growth in the last 12 months.
In addition, the number of passengers carried by airlines in the country in the whole calendar year of 2009 grew 7.9 per cent to 44.51 million against 41.27 million in 2008.
While industry sources are aware of the previous year's low base effect, they maintain that the huge growth in passenger numbers will be a boon for the loss-ridden aviation sector. According to them, going by bookings received till now, passenger numbers in January are also looking good.
Despite a pilots' strike in the reporting period, Jet Airways along with its low-cost subsidiary, JetLite was the market leader, catering to 25.4 per cent of the market share. The airline was closely followed by Kingfisher with 23.9 per cent. Carrier Air India cornered a 17.5 per cent market share, while IndiGo and SpiceJet had 13.9 per cent and 12.4 per cent, respectively.
Low-cost carriers were more efficient in carrying passengers than their full-service peers. IndiGo dominated in the seat factor aspect, filling up 90 per cent of its seats, followed by SpiceJet (88 per cent) and JetLite (81.6 per cent).
In the full-service segment, Chennai-based Paramount Airways reported the highest seat factor of 88.7 per cent, followed by Kingfisher at 80.2 per cent and Air India at 79.7 per cent. However, the market leader, full service carrier Jet Airways reported the lowest seat factor at 78.2 per cent.
