India Has Historically Been Challenging Yet Fantastic Market for Airlines, Says IATA Chief

India, which has historically been a challenging market for airlines to succeed, has all the ingredients to become a fantastic market, and some of the issues being seen now are temporary, according to IATA Chief Willie Walsh.

With considerable growth potential and rising air traffic demand, Indian carriers are looking to expand capacity, and over 1,500 planes are on order. More airports are also coming up.

Welcoming investments in airport infrastructure and by airlines in additional aircraft, Walsh said India's domestic market is now 32% larger in 2025 than in 2020.

"It (Indian domestic market) has increased by more than a third in terms of revenue passenger kilometres... That growth does not come without challenges... India has facilitated that growth, which has been a great example... It is one of the most exciting global markets," Walsh said.

Against the backdrop of IndiGo flight disruptions and other challenges, the IATA chief said he sees some of the issues being faced in the Indian market as temporary.

Walsh is the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global grouping of nearly 360 airlines that account for over 80 per cent of the global air traffic. IATA members include Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet.

At a media roundtable in Geneva on December 9, Walsh noted that all the ingredients for a fantastic market exist in India.