India Emerges as the Fifth Largest Aviation Market Globally with 241 Million Passengers in 2024
India has solidified its position as the world’s fifth-largest aviation market, with a remarkable 241 million passengers handled in 2024. This growth marks an 11.1% increase from the previous year, surpassing Japan’s passenger count of 205 million. The Mumbai–Delhi route has also gained recognition, ranking as the seventh-busiest airport pair globally, according to the latest World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Global Aviation Market Overview
The United States continues to lead the global aviation market, accommodating 876 million passengers in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 5.2%. Following the U.S. is China, which recorded 741 million passengers, a significant increase of 18.7% from 2023. The United Kingdom ranks third with 261 million passengers, while Spain closely follows with 241 million. India’s impressive growth has allowed it to overtake Japan, which, despite a faster growth rate of 18.6%, managed only 205 million passengers. These statistics encompass both domestic and international travelers arriving or departing from each country, highlighting the dynamic nature of the global aviation landscape.
Busy Routes and Passenger Traffic
Among the busiest airport pairs worldwide, the Mumbai–Delhi route stands out, carrying 5.9 million passengers in 2024, placing it seventh globally. The Jeju–Seoul route in South Korea leads the list with 13.2 million passengers. The IATA noted that the Asia Pacific region dominates the rankings for the world’s busiest airport pairs, with Jeddah–Riyadh being the only route outside this region to make the top ten. This trend underscores the growing demand for air travel in Asia, reflecting both economic growth and increased connectivity within the region.
Trends in Premium Travel
The international premium travel segment, which includes business and first-class passengers, has seen a global growth of 11.8% in 2024, slightly outpacing the economy class growth of 11.5%. In total, 116.9 million passengers opted for premium class travel, representing 6% of all international travelers. The Asia Pacific region led this growth with a remarkable 22.8% increase in premium flyers, totaling 21 million travelers. However, economy class travel in the region grew even faster, with a 28.6% increase to 500.8 million passengers. In contrast, regions such as Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America experienced a more significant growth in premium travel compared to economy travel, indicating shifting preferences among travelers.
Aircraft Usage Trends
In terms of aircraft operations, Boeing’s B737 emerged as the most utilized aircraft, completing 10 million flights and covering 2.4 trillion Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) in 2024. The Airbus A320 followed closely with 7.9 million flights and 1.7 trillion ASKs, while the Airbus A321 secured the third position with 3.4 million flights and 1.1 trillion ASKs. ASKs are a crucial metric in aviation, measuring passenger-carrying capacity. This data reflects the ongoing trends in aircraft preference and operational efficiency within the aviation industry, as airlines continue to adapt to the growing demand for air travel.
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