India’s aviation sector is set for another busy season as the Winter Schedule 2025 (WS25) for domestic airlines records a 5.95% weekly growth in departures compared to the previous year. The schedule, effective from October 26, 2025, to March 28, 2026, features a total of 26,495 flights per week across 126 airports nationwide.
Four New Airports Join the Domestic Network
This winter, Amravati (Maharashtrda), Hissar (Haryana), Purnia (Bihar), and Rupsi (Assam) are the new additions to India’s scheduled domestic flight network. These new airports expand regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme and strengthen the government’s focus on last-mile air access.
However, operations from seven airports — Aligarh, Moradabad, Chitrakoot, Bhavnagar, Ludhiana, Pakyong, and Shravasti — were suspended during WS25 due to operational or commercial reasons.
Airline-Wise Performance: Indigo and SpiceJet Lead Growth
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), IndiGo continues to dominate the domestic skies with 15,014 weekly departures, marking a 9.66% growth over last winter. SpiceJet followed with a remarkable 20.89% growth, operating 1,568 flights per week.
AI Express reported an increase of nearly 12%, while Star Air recorded an impressive 49.44% growth compared to WS24, reflecting robust expansion in regional routes.
Other carriers such as IndiaOne and Fly91 showed double-digit growth, while Alliance Air and Air India reported marginal declines due to route optimization and fleet realignment post-merger.
Total Departures Rise to 26,495 Per Week
The finalized slot data, reviewed after the September 2025 slot conference, revealed an overall 3.46% growth in flights compared to the Summer Schedule 2025, which recorded 25,610 weekly departures. Despite a slight reduction in the number of airports served (129 to 126), total flight movements have increased, reflecting higher efficiency and better load management by airlines.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation emphasized that this growth indicates strong post-pandemic recovery and continued passenger demand during the festive and tourism-heavy winter months.
Key Highlights of Winter Schedule 2025
- Total weekly departures: 26,495 flights
- Total airports served: 126
- New airports added: Amravati, Hissar, Purnia, Rupsi
- Overall growth vs WS24: 5.95%
- Top growth airlines: Fly91 (60.6%), Star Air (49.4%), SpiceJet (20.8%)
- Major carriers: IndiGo, Air India, AI Express, SpiceJet
Domestic Aviation Poised for Record Season
The robust winter schedule reflects the domestic aviation market’s steady expansion, buoyed by improved regional connectivity, better fleet utilization, and strong passenger confidence. Industry experts anticipate the total passenger count to surpass pre-COVID levels by early 2026, supported by the government’s ongoing investments in airport infrastructure and regional air connectivity programs.
