Indian Airlines Face Rs 5,289 Crore Loss; Air India Group Contributes Rs 9,808 Crore, IndiGo Reports Profit

The Indian aviation sector has faced significant financial challenges, with a cumulative loss of Rs 5,289.73 crore reported by airlines during the last financial year. This troubling figure has been largely influenced by the Air India Group, which alone contributed a staggering Rs 9,808.12 crore to the total losses. The data, released by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in a written response to the Rajya Sabha, highlights the stark contrast between profitable and loss-making airlines in the country. Out of the 11 airlines operating in India, only four managed to report profits: IndiGo, Blue Dart, Star Air, and IndiaOne Air. In the financial year 2024-25, Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express faced substantial losses of Rs 3,975.75 crore and Rs 5,832.37 crore, respectively. Additionally, Akasa Air reported losses of Rs 1,986.25 crore, illustrating the financial strain across the industry. The state-owned Alliance Air recorded a loss of Rs 691.12 crore, while SpiceJet’s losses amounted to Rs 55.67 crore. Other airlines also struggled, with Fly91 incurring a loss of Rs 67.65 crore and Quikjet Cargo reporting a minimal loss of Rs 1.34 crore. On a more positive note, IndiGo emerged as the most profitable airline, generating a profit of Rs 7,253.30 crore. Other airlines that reported profits included Star Air with Rs 68.75 crore, Blue Dart with Rs 0.71 crore, and IndiaOne Air with Rs 0.33 crore. The financial performance of these airlines underscores the ongoing turbulence in the Indian aviation industry, raising concerns about sustainability and future growth. As the sector continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery, stakeholders are keenly observing how airlines will adapt to the challenging economic landscape while striving for profitability and operational efficiency.