IndiGo Surpasses Air India in International Passengers Amid Ahmedabad Tragedy

New Delhi: India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo, has made a significant mark on the international aviation front. During the July–September 2025 quarter, IndiGo carried more international passengers than Air India and Air India Express combined—marking the first time the carrier has overtaken the Tata Group-owned airline in international traffic.

According to DGCA data reported by TOI, this surge comes in the aftermath of a tragic Air India flight accident in Ahmedabad on 12 June, which claimed 260 lives. Following the incident, Air India cut approximately 15% of its long-haul flights, slightly denting passenger confidence in the airline.

During the July–September period, IndiGo transported 4.136 million international passengers, while Air India and Air India Express combined carried 4.1 million passengers. Despite thousands of domestic flight cancellations in December, IndiGo’s international operations remained largely unaffected. Between 1–9 December, the airline canceled only 2.4% of its 2,702 international flights, compared to nearly 25% of its domestic flights, a situation currently under DGCA investigation.

Historical Context:
IndiGo has previously outperformed Air India in international traffic on a standalone basis. After Jet Airways shut down in April 2019, IndiGo became the largest international airline in India. In the first quarter of 2019, Air India led, Jet Airways was second, and IndiGo third. In early 2018, Jet Airways ranked first, Air India second, Air India Express third, IndiGo fourth, and SpiceJet fifth.

What’s Next:
Further shifts in market leadership are expected in the coming quarters. Air India is preparing to return or repair several older Boeing wide-body aircraft, temporarily reducing its long-haul capacity. Meanwhile, the government is finalizing a mandatory 10% reduction in IndiGo’s flights, though details on how this will be allocated between domestic and international routes are yet to be announced.

IndiGo’s rising international passenger numbers highlight its growing dominance in both domestic and global markets, even amid industry challenges.