Sun Jan 12 15:16:48 UTC 2025: ## Air India Soars: Massive Growth in International Market Share After Privatization

**NEW DELHI, January 12, 2025** – Three years after its privatization, Air India is celebrating a remarkable surge in international market share, particularly on long-haul routes. The airline’s share on flights to North America, Europe, the UK, Australia, and Asia has jumped from 16% to 21% since the Tata Group’s takeover in January 2022, making it the only Indian carrier offering nonstop connectivity to many of these destinations.

This growth is fueled by a strategic focus on lucrative long-haul markets, where Air India now operates 37 routes (up from 28), with daily flight frequencies more than doubling from 30 to 69. The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nipun Aggarwal, expressed confidence in the long-haul market’s potential, noting that Indian airlines currently hold only 21% of the international passenger share, leaving significant room for expansion.

Air India’s success isn’t limited to long-haul flights. Domestically, the Air India Group (including Air India Express) boasts a 30% market share, making it the second-largest player. This strong domestic presence feeds passengers into its international hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

Financial results are equally impressive. Passenger revenue has increased 1.6 times in three years, while aircraft capacity has grown by 1.3 times. Long-haul routes, despite accounting for only 11.7% of total passengers (26 million out of 222 million), generated nearly 50% of the airline’s total revenue ($16 billion out of $34 billion) in fiscal year 2024.

Air India’s future plans include reducing connecting times to attract transit passengers, particularly by diverting traffic currently routed through foreign hubs like Dubai and Singapore. The airline also aims to draw passengers from South Asia and Southeast Asia to connect to other international destinations via its Indian hubs. This strategy, combined with a fleet modernization plan involving new aircraft and the retrofitting of existing wide-body planes with more premium seating, positions Air India for continued growth in the competitive global aviation market.

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