Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Indian Airlines Cut Capacity Ahead of Festive Season
Indian airlines are offering fewer seats than they did during the same period last year.
Low-cost airlines still provide most of the seats in India.
IndiGo remains the biggest airline, but it also reduced its capacity.
Air India, Air India Express, and SpiceJet cut capacity too.
SpiceJet made the largest reduction and is facing unpaid bills to aircraft owners.
A few airlines, including Akasa Air and Emirates, increased their capacity slightly.
The United Arab Emirates is still the busiest international market for flights from India.
Flights to Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom increased, while flights to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore decreased.
Low-cost airlines held 69% of India’s domestic capacity, with 15.7 million seats, down 4% from September 25.
IndiGo remained the largest airline at 11.3 million seats, despite a 4.5% capacity reduction.
Air India’s capacity fell 8.8%, while Air India Express reduced capacity by 2.6%.
SpiceJet recorded the sharpest decline, cutting capacity by 45.2% amid payment dues to lessors.
The United Arab Emirates remained India’s busiest international market, while capacity rose sharply to the United Kingdom and Italy.
- Who
- Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Emirates.
- What
- Domestic airline capacity continued to shrink, while international capacity changes varied by market.
- When
- September 26, compared with September 25, as stated in the article.
- Where
- India’s domestic aviation market and international routes connecting India with other countries.
- Why
- The article does not give one overall reason for the capacity reductions; it specifically links SpiceJet’s cut to payment dues to lessors.
- Low-cost airline share
- 69% of domestic capacity, representing 15.7 million seats
- Full-service capacity
- 7 million seats, down 5.4% year on year
- IndiGo capacity
- 11.3 million seats, down 4.5% or 525,600 seats
- Air India capacity
- 3.2 million seats and a 14% market share, down 8.8%
- Largest capacity cut
- SpiceJet reduced capacity by 45.2%, or 215,000 seats
- Busiest international market
- The United Arab Emirates, with 1.1 million seats and 28% of the international market
- United Kingdom capacity
- Capacity rose 16% to 200,000 seats