Domestic Aviation Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Increasing Domestic Air Travel and Rising Middle-Class Population
The Domestic Aviation Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 922.12 Bn in 2024 and exhibit a CAGR of 3.9% over the forecast period 2024-2031.
Market Dynamics:
The growth of the global domestic aviation market is driven by the increasing domestic air travel and rising middle-class population across several countries. There has been a consistent rise in the number of domestic fliers as air travel is becoming more affordable and convenient for short-haul journeys. Low-cost carriers have further boosted domestic passenger traffic by offering discounted fares. Additionally, the expanding middle-class community with greater disposable income is opting for air travel over other modes of transportation. This has led airline operators to ramp up their domestic flight capacities. Moreover, the growing integration of smaller cities and towns into national air networks has broadened the market reach.
The above dynamics provide expansion opportunities to domestic airlines to add more routes and frequencies. Airline companies are also investing in new aircraft fleets to cater to the burgeoning domestic passenger volume. Strategic alliances between carriers of different countries have enabled travellers to use one ticket for multiple domestic and international legs of travel.
Market Drivers
Increasing Per Capita Income and Growing Middle Class
One of the key drivers of growth in the domestic aviation market is the rising per capita income and expansion of the global middle class. As incomes rise, more people are able to afford air travel for leisure and business purposes within their own countries. Countries like China, India, Indonesia, and many others in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are seeing a substantial increase in their middle-class populations as a result of strong economic growth. This is leading to higher demand for domestic air travel in these emerging markets.
Urbanization and Growth of Mega Cities
Another major driver is the ongoing trend of rapid urbanization witnessed globally. More people are migrating to large urban centres for better education, job, and lifestyle opportunities. Many countries now have multiple mega-cities with populations of over 10 million people. The growth of these large population hubs increases the need for connectivity between different cities within a country via air travel. This is necessitating airlines to start new domestic routes and increase flight frequencies on existing ones to meet the rising demand.
Market Restraints
High Taxes and Regulatory Fees
One key restraint faced by domestic airlines is the high level of taxes and regulatory fees imposed by many governments. Things like passenger service fees, airport charges, value-added taxes on ticket prices can significantly increase the cost of air travel and prices paid by customers. While governments need revenues, excessive taxation can discourage demand by making domestic flights less affordable compared to other modes of transport. Many emerging markets still have scope to rationalize such levies to support industry growth.
Fuel Cost Volatility
A major input cost for airlines is jet fuel, which accounts for 20-30% of total operating expenses. Fuel prices globally have exhibited high volatility in recent years influenced by geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions, and currency fluctuations. This makes it difficult for carriers to accurately estimate fuel costs and effectively manage their margins. Periods of high crude oil prices significantly impact airline profitability and can compel them to reluctantly pass on higher fares to customers to maintain viability. Fuel cost stability is thus critical for sustained demand and industry expansion.
Market Opportunities
Low-Cost Carriers Driving Affordability
The entry and rising popularity of low-cost carriers (LCCs) like Southwest Airlines, IndiGo, Ryanair presents a huge opportunity. LCCs have transformed the aviation sector with their ultra-low base fares and efficient point-to-point networks. They are making flying highly affordable for masses and bridging the critical price gap between air and surface travel. The budget carrier business model is well-suited for high-volume short-haul domestic routes. This will aid continued air travel demand growth as more price-sensitive customers choose flights over alternative transport modes.
Cargo Services Tapping E-Commerce Boom
The exponential surge in domestic e-commerce shipments across industries like electronics, apparel, food provides a major market opening for airlines. Integration of cargo services alongside scheduled passenger flights allows them to tap this fast-growing delivery market by offering time-definite transportation of parcels, packages and mail across countries. Cargo revenues supplement core ticket sales, helping drive overall utilization of aircraft capacity and yield optimization. The pandemic-fueled digital transformation further raises prospects for aviation-based logistics support to domestic retailers and supply chains.
Link: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/domestic-aviation-market-3813
Key Developments:
- In March 2024, Boeing and AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) entered into a strategic alliance to elevate aircraft maintenance training in India. Under this agreement, Boeing will provide AIESL with comprehensive support, including training materials, aids, and instructor guidance, to ensure consistency across AIESL's training programs. Simultaneously, AIESL will leverage its existing infrastructure and personnel expertise while obtaining the required CAR 147 approval from the Indian regulatory body to offer maintenance training services to its clients.
- In February 2024, Airbus and Total Energies established a strategic alliance to address the challenge of decarbonizing the aviation industry. This partnership aims to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which play a crucial role in the industry's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Total Energies' SAF has the potential to reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional jet fuel, making it a vital component in the effort to lower the sector's carbon footprint.
Key Players:
Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Airbus SE, Embraer S.A., Emirates, EVA Air, IndiGo, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SpiceJet, Textron Inc., and The Boeing Company
