Dominance of foreign airlines on international routes presents growth opportunity for Indian carriers: ICRA

21 Mar 2025 Evaluate

Credit rating agency ICRA in its latest report has said that the dominance of foreign airlines on international routes presents a significant growth opportunity for Indian carriers. It said international air passenger traffic for Indian carriers is likely to grow by 15-20 per cent in FY2025 and FY2026, while domestic passenger traffic is expected to grow at a slower rate of 7 to 10 per cent per year. The growth is supported by increasing e-visa and visa-on-arrival coverage, along with the Indian government's push for theme-based tourist centres and iconic destinations. 

According to the report, international air passenger traffic from and to India reached 56.9 lakh in the first nine months of FY2025, reflecting an 11.4 per cent year-on-year increase and a 9.2 per cent rise compared to pre-Covid levels of FY2020. Indian carriers saw a 40.7 per cent increase in international passenger traffic over pre-Covid levels, highlighting their rapid growth. A major shift in the industry has been the rise of low-cost carriers (LCCs), which now account for 72 per cent of the total international passenger traffic for Indian carriers in 9M FY2025. This marks a significant change from previous years when full-service carriers (FSCs) dominated international routes. 

However, the report said Indian carriers also face multiple challenges, including restrictive policy regimes, slow reforms, and inadequate aviation infrastructure, which have historically limited their expansion on international routes.  As a result, it said foreign airlines have maintained a stronghold, with a market share ranging between 55 per cent and 60 per cent over the past three years. But, it said there is significant potential for Indian carriers to capture a larger share of the market. 


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