India’s domestic air passenger traffic noted a 7 per cent year-on-year increase in July 2024, reaching 1.30 crore passengers. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, this uptick follows a period of slowed growth over the previous nine months, attributed to high airfares and limited capacity due to grounded aircraft.
Since April 2024, domestic air traffic has regained momentum, but July witnessed disruptions due to adverse weather and IT-related issues affecting flight schedules. Alongside this, cargo handling and rail freight in the country also saw significant growth.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reported that major Indian government ports managed 70.1 million metric tonnes of cargo in July 2024, a 7 per cent increase YoY. Likewise, the Ministry of Railways disclosed a total freight traffic of 129.6 MMT, marking a 4.7 per cent YoY growth.
Experts attribute the rise in freight traffic to the operationalization of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and the partial completion of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. These corridors handle about 10 per cent of total freight on the Indian Railway network, enhancing efficiency and turnaround times.