IndiGo is now stomping its dominance on Indian skies. According to data compiled by Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the first seven months (January-July) of 2015, the airline carried 17 million passengers during this period with a market share of 37.3 per cent. During the corresponding period of 2014, it had carried 11.48 million passengers with a market share of 30.5 per cent.
The growth can truly be considered spectacular with 4 in 10 domestic flyers taking an IndiGo flight every day. At the second place was Jet Airways whose market share during the period, (together with Jet Lite), was 23.1%, up from 21.9% during the corresponding period of 2014.
So, who are the losers? Air India took the third position with a market share of 16.7%, down from 19% last year. SpiceJet, at fourth place, has suffered more with its share at 10.8%, down from 18.6% last year.
The total market share by the top four has, however, reduced from 90% to 87.9% in this period. At the fifth place, the market share of Go Air went down marginally from 9.2% to 8.7%.
According to a June 2015 report by global aviation consultancy CAPA, IndiGo could grab up to 50 per cent market share in just two years. As India’s domestic aviation grows on the back of low fuel prices and increasing demand, IndiGo seems poised to reap maximum benefits among all Indian airlines.
IndiGo commenced operations in August 2006 with a single aircraft and by December 2010 had replaced the state run Air India as the top third airline in India with a market share of 17.3%, behind Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. It now has a fleet of 97 aircraft operating over 630 daily flights. In July 2015, it has filed a draft red herring prospectus with the Securities Exchange Board of India for its proposed IPO, subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations.