As one of the worst sectors to be hit by the ongoing recession, Indian aviation industry is hoping for revival. And things are looking better. A quick glance at Mumbai airport’s passenger traffic figures for the first two months of the current fiscal shows a small but positive trend, though the numbers lag behind when compared to the past two years’.

Moreover, a combined nationwide average of passenger load factor (PLF) figures for the top three carriers (Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines) indicate an average occupancy of about 68% for April and May, up from about 65% for January, February and March 2009.

Passenger traffic figures at the Mumbai airport obtained by Newsline for the first two months of this financial year —April & May — indicates a nominal rise but only on a month-on-month basis. Also, the figures are lower than even those in 2007. While passenger traffic for April in 2007 stood at 20.6 lakh, the figure for April 2009 stands at 19 lakh - down by about 8%.

However, on a year-on-year comparison, this April’s figures are down 14% compared to passenger traffic of 22.13 lakh in April 2008. Similarly, traffic figures at Mumbai airport for May 2009 is down by 6.67% at 22.11 lakh compared to the May 2008 figure of 23.69 lakh passengers.

However, on a month-on-month basis this year, there is a rise of 14% and that, officials say, is good news. “There is a positive trend in passenger figures on a month-on-month basis,” said the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) spokesperson. But since the months of June, July and August are traditionally considered dull due to monsoons and ending of summer holiday season, officials are not sure if the trend will continue.

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