Indian airlines post Rs 5,289 crore loss in FY25; Air India Group accounts for biggest share

New Delhi: Indian airlines reported a cumulative loss of Rs 5,289.73 crore in the financial year 2024–25, with the Air India Group accounting for the largest share of losses, according to official data.

The information was shared on Monday in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, who said the Air India Group alone recorded losses totalling Rs 9,808.12 crore during the period.

Among the 11 airline operators in the country, only four reported profits — IndiGo, Blue Dart, Star Air and IndiaOne Air — while the remaining carriers posted losses.

Air India registered a loss of Rs 3,975.75 crore in FY25, while its low-cost arm Air India Express reported a significantly higher loss of Rs 5,832.37 crore. Akasa Air also remained in the red, posting a loss of Rs 1,986.25 crore.

State-owned Alliance Air recorded a loss of Rs 691.12 crore, while financially stressed SpiceJet narrowed its loss to Rs 55.67 crore during the last fiscal.

Other loss-making airlines included Fly91, which reported a loss of Rs 67.65 crore, and cargo operator Quikjet, which posted a loss of Rs 1.34 crore.

On the profit side, IndiGo emerged as the strongest performer, posting a profit of Rs 7,253.30 crore. Regional carrier Star Air reported a profit of Rs 68.75 crore, while cargo operator Blue Dart and IndiaOne Air posted modest profits of Rs 0.71 crore and Rs 0.33 crore, respectively.

The government clarified that all figures were calculated after accounting for extraordinary items.

Responding to a query from CPI(M) member John Brittas, the minister reiterated that India’s aviation sector operates in a deregulated market, where airfares are neither fixed nor regulated by the government. Ticket prices, he said, are determined by airlines based on demand-supply dynamics and other commercial considerations.