Revenue (in tonne-kilometers) earned by Indian civil aviation from 2011 to 2025

Between 2011 and 2019, the Indian civil aviation industry saw steady growth in it’s revenue tonne-kilometres (RTK), with the figure almost doubling from 11,945.6 million in 2011-12 to 22,779.5 million in 2018-19. However, the impact of the pandemic was severe, as reflected in the data. RTK dropped drastically from 20,945.7 million in 2019-20 to 5,142.6 million in 2020-21, a nearly 75% decline from its pre-pandemic peak. The sharp decline was mainly due to COVID-19 restrictions, reduced passenger traffic, and supply chain disruptions. A recovery phase began in 2021-22 when the RTK climbed back to 7,883.3 million but still remained far below pre-pandemic levels. In the subsequent years, the RTK surged to 21,354 million in 2022-23 and reached a record high of 25,258.6 million in 2023-24, which showcases the industry’s resilience and strong demand. Surprisingly, the provisional figures for 2024-25 indicate a sharp projected decline to 13,581.2 million RTK. This unexpected dip could be due to multiple factors like market corrections, fluctuating fuel prices, or shifts in operational strategies. Despite the strong recovery, this suggests that the aviation industry might be facing new challenges or structural shifts. The overall trend from 2011 to 2024 highlights the volatility of the Indian aviation sector—showing periods of rapid growth, a pandemic-induced collapse, a strong rebound, and a potential moderation. This pattern underscores the industry’s sensitivity to both global and domestic economic conditions, making it a dynamic and unpredictable sector.