India’s airline passenger traffic has fallen about 16% in October compared to a year ago, according to Directorate of Civil Aviation.
The decline marks the sixth straight month of falling traffic despite capacity remaining largely flat. India's air travel numbers had registered double-digit growth over the past several years. October data shows airlines flew 4.5 million passengers compared to 5.4 million in the year-ago month.
Analysts say the slowdown is largely because of higher fares and slowing economic growth. India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth, the primary measure of economic health, declined to 5.4% in the April to September period, compared to the 7.3% reported in the same period last year, according to data released by the Central Statistical Organization. Many air passengers are making fewer trips or taking the train, travel agents in Mumbai said.
06/12/12 Cuckoo Paul/ATW
