The month of July reported the lowest growth rate of 12.43% for domestic airlines this year with industry watchers attributing it to slower capacity addition and grounding of IndiGo planes.

An analysis also showed that domestic carriers ferried less passengers in July compared to June.

According to official statistics released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airlines flew 95.65 lakh passengers last month compared to 85.08 lakh same month last year.

The number of fliers was increasing month after month but July’s figures have taken the sheen out as it has recorded the lowest growth in rate as well as in numbers. Compared to last July, this July saw a growth of only 10.57 lakh passengers. While the monthly growth rate was 25.13% in January, the highest this year, it had slipped below 15% in March (14.91%) besides July. In May, the number of fliers crossed one-crore mark for the first time while registering a growth rate of 17.38%. In June, the growth rate was 19.98%.

Overall, domestic airlines carried 657.21 lakh fliers in the first seven months of this year as against 560.87 lakh during the same period last year.

Industry watchers said there is nothing much to worry and the situation would soon be back to normal once IndiGo’s engine woes are over.

IndiGo had to ground eight A320neo due to engine problems and four A320neo planes due to customs clearance on engine parts. When it came to seat occupancy, SpiceJet continued to be on the top with 94.4%, marginally down from 94.5% in June. Except Trujet, all airlines had a dip in seat occupancy.

The passenger load factor in July has shown a declining trend compared to previous month primarily due to the end of tourist season, the DGCA said.

July sees lowest growth rate for domestic fliers