Air Passenger Traffic in India: Year-wise Data (1995-2025)
India’s aviation sector has grown rapidly over the past three decades. Air passenger traffic increased from around 37 million passengers in 1995-96 to more than 420 million in 2024-25.
The growth has been driven by rising air travel demand, expanding airport infrastructure, increasing domestic connectivity and the growth of low-cost air travel.
However, the trend has not been uninterrupted. Passenger traffic declined during periods such as the 2008-09 global slowdown and fell dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick Highlights
- India’s air passenger traffic increased from 37.01 million in 1995–96 to 420.03 million in 2024–25.
- Total passenger traffic increased by around 11.4 times during this period.
- Domestic passengers reached 338.91 million in 2024–25.
- International passengers reached 81.13 million in 2024–25.
- Passenger traffic fell sharply to 115.13 million in 2020–21 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- India’s air passenger traffic recovered strongly after the pandemic and reached a record 420.03 million passengers in 2024–25.
Air Passenger Traffic in India by Year
India Air Passenger Traffic
Domestic, international and total passengers by financial year
| Financial Year ↕ | Domestic(million) ↕ | International(million) ↕ | Total(million) ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | 25.56 | 11.45 | 37.01 |
| 1996–97 | 24.28 | 12.22 | 36.50 |
| 1997–98 | 23.85 | 12.78 | 36.63 |
| 1998–99 | 24.07 | 12.92 | 36.99 |
| 1999–00 | 25.74 | 13.29 | 39.03 |
| 2000–01 | 28.02 | 14.01 | 42.03 |
| 2001–02 | 26.36 | 13.62 | 39.98 |
| 2002–03 | 28.90 | 14.83 | 43.72 |
| 2003–04 | 32.08 | 16.62 | 48.70 |
| 2004–05 | 39.86 | 19.45 | 59.31 |
| 2005–06 | 50.98 | 22.36 | 73.34 |
| 2006–07 | 69.81 | 25.52 | 95.33 |
| 2007–08 | 86.95 | 30.75 | 117.70 |
| 2008–09 | 77.34 | 31.62 | 108.96 |
| 2009–10 | 88.73 | 34.37 | 123.10 |
| 2010–11 | 105.33 | 38.05 | 143.38 |
| 2011–12 | 121.68 | 40.68 | 162.36 |
| 2012–13 | 115.84 | 43.03 | 158.87 |
| 2013–14 | 122.43 | 46.62 | 169.05 |
| 2014–15 | 139.71 | 50.93 | 190.64 |
| 2015–16 | 168.88 | 54.97 | 223.85 |
| 2016–17 | 205.65 | 58.83 | 264.48 |
| 2017–18 | 243.26 | 64.70 | 307.96 |
| 2018–19 | 275.48 | 69.64 | 345.12 |
| 2019–20 | 275.20 | 66.98 | 342.18 |
| 2020–21 | 105.10 | 10.03 | 115.13 |
| 2021–22 | 166.78 | 22.10 | 188.88 |
| 2022–23 | 270.00 | 57.00 | 327.00 |
| 2023–24 | 306.79 | 69.64 | 376.43 |
| 2024–25 | 338.91 | 81.13 | 420.03 |
India's Air Passenger Traffic Over Time
India's aviation market has changed significantly since the 1990s.
In 1995-96, Indian airports handled only about 37 million passengers. At the time, domestic passenger traffic was around 25.6 million.
By 2005-06, total passenger traffic had almost doubled to more than 73 million.
The next decade saw much faster growth. Passenger traffic crossed 100 million in 2007-08 and reached more than 223 million by 2015-16.
The strongest expansion occurred during the second half of the 2010s, with total traffic reaching approximately 345 million passengers in 2018-19.
The pandemic then caused an unprecedented fall, but passenger traffic has since recovered and surpassed its previous peak.
Domestic vs International Air Passenger Traffic
Domestic flights account for the majority of India's air passenger traffic.
In 1995–96:
- Domestic: 25.56 million
- International: 11.45 million
By 2024–25:
- Domestic: 338.91 million
- International: 81.13 million
This means domestic passenger traffic grew much faster over the period.
Domestic aviation has been supported by increasing connectivity between Indian cities, growth of regional airports and wider availability of relatively affordable air travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions about India's air passenger traffic and its growth over time.
Indian airports handled approximately 420.03 million passengers in 2024–25, including domestic and international passengers.
India recorded approximately 338.91 million domestic passengers in 2024–25.
Indian airports handled approximately 81.13 million international passengers in 2024–25.
India's total air passenger traffic crossed 300 million in 2017–18, when Indian airports handled approximately 307.96 million passengers.
Total air passenger traffic fell from 342.18 million in 2019–20 to just 115.13 million in 2020–21, a decline of about 66%.
India recorded its highest passenger traffic in this dataset in 2024–25, when Indian airports handled 420.03 million passengers.
Total air passenger traffic increased from 37.01 million in 1995–96 to 420.03 million in 2024–25, making the traffic level approximately 11.4 times higher.
Source
Data Source: Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
Note: Passenger figures represent traffic handled at Indian airports and are presented in million passengers. Historical figures may vary slightly between government publications because of revisions, rounding and differences in reporting periods.