Key Points:
- India has emerged as the world’s fifth largest aviation market in 2024, overtaking Japan with 241 million passengers handled a growth of 11.1% over last year.
- The Mumbai–Delhi route is now the 7th busiest air route worldwide, carrying 5.9 million travelers in 2024.
- The US remains the top aviation market globally (876 million passengers), followed by China (741 million), the UK (261 million), and Spain (241 million).
- Robust growth is supported by India’s expanding middle class, rising frequency of both domestic and international flights, and continued investment in aviation infrastructure.
- Asia-Pacific dominates the world’s busiest air routes, with South Korea’s Jeju-Seoul route ranked number one (13.2 million flyers).
New Delhi: India’s aviation industry has soared to new heights in 2024, as per the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report. The country handled an astounding 241 million passengers, up from 211 million in 2023 a remarkable 11.1% annual growth. This performance propels India past Japan (205 million passengers), solidifying its position among the world’s top five aviation markets.
Global Rankings and Growth
- Top 5 Aviation Markets by Passengers, 2024:
- United States: 876 million
- China: 741 million
- United Kingdom: 261 million
- Spain: 241 million
- India: 241 million
Japan, despite a robust 18.6% growth, sits just behind India at 205 million passengers.
Asia-Pacific and India’s Busy Corridors
The Asia-Pacific region dominates global air travel. The Mumbai–Delhi air corridor stands out as the 7th busiest globally, carrying 5.9 million passengers in 2024. The Jeju–Seoul route in South Korea topped the world list at 13.2 million flyers, highlighting the region’s dominance in high-volume air routes.
Industry Drivers and Future Prospects
India’s aviation boom is fueled by:
- A rapidly growing and increasingly mobile middle class
- Doubling of domestic airline capacity in the past decade
- Over 1.3 million scheduled flights in 2024, up nearly 78% in ten years
- Government plans to expand the number of operational airports from 157 in 2024 to 400 by 2047
These growth drivers have reinforced India’s reputation as a powerful player in global aviation and positioned the sector as a critical pillar for continued economic expansion.
India’s climb up the aviation ranks not only reflects its domestic mobility surge, but also its growing role in global connectivity heralding a new era for the country’s airlines, airports, and travelers.
