Air India, the flag carrier of India, recorded the highest the long-haul capacity growth and frequency growth amongst all airlines in the Asia-Pacific region in 2023, and is one of the winners of Asia-Pacific  Aviation Network Champions index, says British aviation consultancy firm OAG.

In a press statement, OAG says that Air India has been responsible for the highest growth in airline capacity between 2019-2023 and the highest increase in flight frequency in the same period.

The statement adds that VietJet leads the pack across three airline categories, including Capacity Growth and Frequency Growth, both for short-haul LCC and Most Improved Network. In the Most Improved Network category, two other Indian airlines, namely Vistara and IndiGo have bagged Silver and Bronze awards respectively, it adds.

According to OAG, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta is the Most Recovered airport, and Hong Kong is the Fastest Growing. The list also recognises key route performance in the past year, including Incheon – Tokyo Narita as the Most Competitive International City Pair.

Mayur Patel

“The global aviation market has fully recovered with ASPAC still lagging behind. Depending on global macroeconomics and the full recovery of the Chinese outbound market, the full recovery should occur end of 2024 or early 2025. With rising aircraft orders placed in the region, increasing disposable incomes, and a hunger for travel, Asia Pacific is poised to lead the industry in the next decade,” says Mayur Patel, head of the Asia Pacific region at OAG.

The statement adds that among the Most Recovered Regional Network airports that have recovered the most in the region in 2023 as against 2019, Delhi airport bagged Silver recognition.

It says that Hong Kong International Airport was awarded as Fastest Growing airport, with the highest growth rate in airline capacity change from Q4 2023 vs Q4 2022. In terms of most recovered international route, the Busan-Taipei gained recognition as the Most Recovered International route.