IndiGo has over half of India’s domestic market this month and takes the top spot at all of the country’s top-20 airports. Its dominance has existed for years, but it’s good to see the numbers maintaining despite the challenging circumstances. It has 343 domestic routes this month, with Bangalore having more routes than its other top-five airports.
IndiGo: over half of India’s domestic market
IndiGo has a 52.7% share of India’s non-stop domestic capacity this month, up only very marginally over 2019. Its share is well ahead of SpiceJet (11.7%), Air India (10.2%), GoAir (8.8%), AirAsia India (7.4%), and Vistara (6.5%). It has more than those five combined.
IndiGo’s A320s are the absolute backbone of its operation. They are responsible for nearly eight in ten seats, OAG data shows, followed by its A321s (16.4%) and ATR-72s (5.2%).
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IndiGo’s top-20 routes
India’s largest carrier has 343 domestic routes this month, up by 96 over March 2019. It serves 65 domestic airports, not surprisingly led by Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
The importance of IndiGo’s second-largest airport, Bangalore, is clear to see. The Karnataka airport features six times in the top-20 routes – with all but one in its top-10. IndiGo has 53 domestic routes from Bangalore, more than from Delhi (49), Mumbai (41), Hyderabad (43), and Kolkata (39).
The operator’s top-20 airport-pairs have nearly 1.8 million seats between them this month, for a one-quarter share of total capacity.
New airport coming
A new airport – Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh – will enter IndiGo’s network this month. It’ll have three routes to it from March 28th – Bangalore, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam – all by the ATR.
While playing only a small role overall, IndiGo’s ATR-72s will operate 88 routes this month involving 46 airports. The 224-mile link between Hyderabad and Rajahmundry and the 164-mile sector from Hyderabad to Vijayawada are joint-top. Hyderabad is by far IndiGo’s top airport for ATR operations.
IndiGo is #1 at all of India’s top-20 airports
IndiGo is the top domestic airline at all of India’s top-20 airports this month. Its share averages 52.9%, against 16.3% for whichever airline is second. Coming in with nine, SpiceJet is – as you’d expect – primarily number-two, with more substantial shares at smaller airports.
With 71.1% of domestic seats, IndiGo is incredibly dominant at Lucknow, India’s 12th largest airport. Hyderabad follows (70.1%), along with Vishakhapatnam (66.0%), Chandigarh (63.3%), and Chennai (60.7%).
IndiGo has 16 domestic routes from Lucknow, OAG data indicates, with its thickest tier-two city, to Patna, seventh. It is served seven-weekly using A320s and has no direct competition. Guwahati resumes on March 28th.
Hyderabad has the biggest difference
Hyderabad presently has the most significant share difference between the top-two airlines. IndiGo has almost 1.2 million seats to/from the airport this month. Only 24 of its 43 domestic routes from Hyderabad have direct competition. Those that don’t are mainly thin, such as Bhopal, Madurai, and Vadodara. Bhopal has a two-hour 30-minute block time with the ATR.
Srinagar, meanwhile, has the slimmest difference. IndiGo has ‘only’ a three-in-ten share at Srinagar against 23% for GoAir. The two carriers compete directly to Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Jammu, while IndiGo’s Amritsar operation sees no direct competition.
While IndiGo is firmly leading, who do you think will come out of the pandemic as India’s second domestic carrier? Comment below!