Indian airlines lose international share as foreign carriers reach 57.6%
Indian carriers’ international market share fell to 42.4% in Q1 2026 from 46.3% a year earlier. IndiGo held 20.0%, while the Air India group’s share dropped to 19.8%, highlighting pressure on India’s aviation-hub ambitions.
What happened
Indian airlines lost international market share in Q1 CY2026 as foreign carriers reached 57.6%. IndiGo held 20% and Air India group 19.8%, both down year on
Key facts
- Indian carriers' international market share: 42.4% in Q1 CY2026, down from 46.3% in Q1 CY2025
- Foreign carriers' share: 57.6% in Q1 CY2026, up from 53.7% in Q1 CY2025
- IndiGo share: 20.0% in Q1 CY2026, down from 20.3%
- Air India group share: 19.8% in Q1 CY2026, down from 23.5%
Why this matters
Foreign-carrier gains strengthen the case for alliances, codeshares, fleet access and airport-hub partnerships that can rebuild Indian carriers’ international reach.