IndiGo Hit Record Passenger Traffic in November Before December Meltdown

India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, achieved a major milestone in November 2025. The airline recorded its highest-ever monthly domestic passenger count. This peak came just one month before a severe operational meltdown in December. That crisis led to a near ground stop at major airports. It also triggered multiple investigations by the regulator and the ministry.

Record Traffic Amidst Market Shifts

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released its November domestic passenger summary. The data showed that IndiGo carried 96.93 lakh passengers in November. This figure surpassed the airline's previous best of 96.15 lakh passengers from December 2024. This record was achieved despite a slight drop in market share. IndiGo’s share fell sequentially from 65.6% in October to 63.5% in November. The overall market expanded significantly during the month.

IndiGo increased its domestic schedule for the winter season. The airline managed to operate its planned flights. This was achieved despite numerous delays and cancellations. The carrier reduced its domestic flight count from 61,364 in October to 59,438 in November. This reduction was offset by a strong rise in Passenger Load Factor (PLF). IndiGo’s PLF jumped from 82.4% in October to 88.7% in November. This indicates fuller aircraft, but also greater operational strain.

Competitors Also See Gains

Other major carriers also saw record-setting performance in November. The Air India Group, including Air India and Air India Express, also hit its highest domestic passenger count. The group carried 40.75 lakh passengers. Their combined market share rose to 26.7%. This surpassed their previous best of 38.9 lakh passengers in April. Their load factor also increased sharply, from 77.3% to 87.5%. SpiceJet also recorded its best month in 2025. It carried 5.6 lakh passengers. The airline's market share increased from 2.6% to 3.7%. This was largely due to capacity induction from wet-leased planes.

The December Operational Meltdown

The surge in November traffic preceded a massive operational failure in December. The disruption was unprecedented for a well-capitalized airline. The primary cause was inadequate preparation for the second phase of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. These new rules required more rest for pilots and crew. IndiGo’s inability to accurately forecast crew needs led to widespread cancellations. The DGCA directed IndiGo to cut its winter schedule by 10%. The regulator's inquiry committee submitted its confidential report to the Civil Aviation Ministry in late December. The government is expected to take action based on the findings. The crisis highlighted fragile operational foundations beneath the booming passenger numbers.

Capacity Constraints and Future Growth

Strong demand in November was driven by the wedding season and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) traffic. This traffic was expected to continue in December. However, the operational chaos severely impacted holiday travel.

Overall domestic passenger growth was 4.26% for the first eleven months of 2025. This growth is considered moderate given India's high GDP growth. The key limiting factor is the lack of capacity in the Indian skies. Indian carriers have large aircraft orders placed with manufacturers like Airbus. However, they face significant aircraft delivery delays. These delays are due to global supply chain issues and production problems. This capacity crunch is expected to continue for several years. It limits fleet expansion and puts strain on existing operations.

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