New Delhi: India's domestic air passenger traffic grew by a whopping over 26 per cent in July compared with the corresponding period a year ago, helped by low airfares and an increase in capacity by the local carriers.
"Domestic travel demand globally climbed 3.8 per cent in July compared to July 2015, its slowest pace in 19 months. Even as China and India are booming while more mature markets are stuck in neutral," monthly air passenger traffic data by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed.
Air travel demand in India surged 26.2 per cent in July as against the average global demand of 3.8 per cent during the period, industry body IATA said.
Domestic capacity globally grew 3.7 per cent, while the seat occupancy in aircraft rose 0.1 percentage point to 84 per cent in July 2016, it said.
"July saw demand strengthen, after a softening in June. Demand was stimulated by lower fares which, in turn, were supported by lower oil prices. And near record high load factors demonstrate that people want to travel," IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said.
Passenger demand has broadly grown in line with the average of the past 10 years but the industry faces some potential headwinds, including lingering impacts from the series of terrorist attacks and the fragile economic backdrop, he said.
"The environment in which aviation operates is dynamic-even volatile. Speed is of the essence. As an industry we must be prepared for rapid innovation in order to manage shocks and take advantage of opportunities as they arise."
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