IndiGo surpasses Air India Group with 4.14M international passengers in Q3 2025.

IndiGo has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the combined Air India Group (Air India and Air India Express) in international passenger traffic for the July–September 2025 quarter. Data released by the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows IndiGo carried 4.14 million international passengers, marginally exceeding the Tata Group’s total of 4.10 million. This marks the first time in six years that the low-cost carrier has held the top position in this segment, placing it ahead of Air India (2.38 million) and Air India Express (1.72 million) individually and collectively.

The Air India Group's capacity was significantly constrained during the period. Air India’s international widebody operations were reduced by 15% following a fatal Boeing 787 crash near Ahmedabad. Furthermore, the airline continues to operate below potential due to ongoing supply-chain challenges delaying deliveries of new Airbus and Boeing aircraft, coupled with older fleet being pulled out for necessary cabin upgrades.

The shift in market leadership appears set to continue into the winter schedule (October–March). Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that IndiGo has increased its international schedule by 14.5%, planning 44,035 flights, while the Air India Group cut its schedule by over 9%. However, IndiGo's operational stability remains under scrutiny. The budget carrier recently faced massive domestic disruptions in early December, leading to over 4,200 cancellations.

Consequently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed IndiGo to cut its overall schedule by 10% to stabilize operations. This mandate, stemming from the recent chaos, potentially impacts IndiGo's ability to sustain its current international growth trajectory despite its strong Q3 performance.