India’s Airlines Face Rs 5,289 Crore Loss, Air India Group Accounts for Over Rs 9,800 Crore in 2024-25

Indian airlines faced a staggering cumulative loss of Rs 5,289.73 crore in the last financial year, with the Air India Group alone contributing a significant Rs 9,808.12 crore to this total, as revealed by official data presented in a written response to the Rajya Sabha by Murlidhar Mohol, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation. Among the 11 airline operators in the country, four achieved profitability, namely IndiGo, Blue Dart, Star Air, and IndiaOne Air. Specifically, for the fiscal year 2024-25, Air India and Air India Express reported substantial losses of Rs 3,975.75 crore and Rs 5,832.37 crore, respectively. Additionally, Akasa Air recorded losses amounting to Rs 1,986.25 crore, while state-owned Alliance Air experienced a loss of Rs 691.12 crore. SpiceJet reported a loss of Rs 55.67 crore, and other loss-making entities included Fly91 with Rs 67.65 crore and Quikjet Cargo with Rs 1.34 crore. In stark contrast, the low-cost carrier IndiGo achieved a remarkable profit of Rs 7,253.30 crore, affirming its position as a market leader. Other profitable companies included Star Air with earnings of Rs 68.75 crore, Blue Dart with Rs 0.71 crore, and IndiaOne Air with Rs 0.33 crore. The financial struggles of Indian airlines underscore the challenges faced by the aviation sector, particularly in the wake of economic fluctuations and operational costs. As the industry continues to navigate these turbulent times, the performance metrics of key players like IndiGo highlight the potential for recovery and growth within the sector. Stakeholders and policymakers are closely monitoring these developments as they work to stabilize and revitalize Indian aviation in the coming years.