DELHI – India’s domestic aviation market continues to thrive, driven by rising middle-class income, growing connectivity, and increased frequency between key cities.
In this article, we’ve explored the 15 busiest domestic routes, based on the number of flights, seats, and Available Seat Miles (ASMs).
15 Busiest Routes in India
Here’s the list of the top 15 busiest domestic flight routes in India
1. Delhi-Mumbai (DEL-BOM)
- Flights: 3,259
- Seats: 654,532
- ASMs: 462,099,592
Unsurprisingly, the Delhi-Mumbai route remains India’s busiest domestic route, both in terms of flights and seats offered. Connecting two of the country’s largest cities, this route serves corporate as well as leisure travelers.
2. Delhi-Bengaluru (DEL-BLR)
- Flights: 2,249
- Seats: 457,557
- ASMs: 484,095,306
Ranking second, the Delhi-Bengaluru route offers around half a million seats monthly. It stands out for its high ASMs (484 million), indicating its longer distance and the use of high-capacity narrow-body aircraft.
Besides leisure passengers, this route supports India’s tech and startup ecosystems with frequent corporate traffic.
3. Mumbai-Bengaluru (BOM-BLR)
- Flights: 1,935
- Seats: 385,374
- ASMs: 199,238,358
This route links India’s financial capital with its IT capital. Despite being a shorter route, it remains among the top three – all thanks to its continuous business-oriented demand.
4. Delhi-Hyderabad (DEL-HYD)
- Flights: 1,626
- Seats: 328,082
- ASMs: 257,544,370
The DEL-HYD route benefits from Hyderabad’s emerging position as an IT and pharmaceutical hub. Demand on this route is a strong mix of passenger profiles, including corporate, VFR (visiting friends and relatives), and leisure travelers.
5. Delhi-Pune (DEL-PNQ)
- Flights: 1,351
- Seats: 271,598
- ASMs: 194,464,168
Pune’s industrial and educational significance supports high demand on this route. Though smaller than other cities on this list, Pune’s growing economic importance is also reflected by this route.
6. Delhi-Kolkata (DEL-CCU)
- Flights: 1,349
- Seats: 265,590
- ASMs: 216,987,030
Serving as a key connection between Northern and Eastern India, this route serves the political and cultural capitals of their respective regions, Delhi and Kolkata benefit.
7. Delhi-Ahmedabad (DEL-AMD)
- Flights: 1,299
- Seats: 241,931
- ASMs: 113,949,501
The DEL-AMD route is critical for business travel, linking Delhi with Gujarat’s economic hub. The relatively low ASMs suggest a shorter flight distance compared to others on the list.
8. Kolkata-Bengaluru (CCU-BLR)
- Flights: 1,254
- Seats: 245,317
- ASMs: 235,504,320
This route serves as one of the busiest East-to-South corridors, evidenced by its high ASMs. Bengaluru’s tech sector and Kolkata’s role as a cultural and industrial center make this route a busier one.
9. Hyderabad-Bengaluru (HYD-BLR)
- Flights: 1,168
- Seats: 203,618
- ASMs: 57,216,658
This shorter route within Southern India has moderate ASMs, reflecting shorter flight distances. Its demand is largely driven by quick inter-city commutes and business links.
10. Hyderabad-Mumbai (HYD-BOM)
- Flights: 1,124
- Seats: 218,990
- ASMs: 84,968,120
The HYD-BOM route benefits from Hyderabad’s growing prominence and its connection to Mumbai’s financial opportunities. With an ASM of 84 million, it reflects the medium-haul distance.
Bottom Five
| S. No. | Origin | Destination | Flights | Seats | ASMs |
| 11 | Chennai | Delhi | 1115 | 234,459 | 255,560,310 |
| 12 | Ahmedabad | Mumbai | 1099 | 195,938 | 53,687,012 |
| 13 | Kolkata | Mumbai | 1068 | 213,434 | 221,331,058 |
| 14 | Chennai | Mumbai | 1063 | 201,494 | 129,359,148 |
| 15 | Delhi | Srinagar | 968 | 180,884 | 71,991,832 |
The busiest domestic routes in India are primarily served by two dominant airlines: IndiGo (6E) and Air India (AI). These two carriers operate most daily flights across the top 15 routes, offering high connectivity and frequency.
IndiGo, as the leading low-cost carrier in India, dominates routes like Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Bengaluru, and Mumbai-Bengaluru with numerous daily flights operating a mix of Airbus A320/A320neo family aircraft, catering to business and leisure travelers alike.
Air India, with its legacy operations and full-service model, maintains a strong presence on these routes as well, particularly on longer sectors such as Delhi-Chennai and Delhi-Kolkata.
Besides narrow-body aircraft, Air India also deploys its widebody aircraft, including the new Airbus A350-900s and the Boeing 777 on some domestic flights (mostly to rotate aircraft for the next flight).
These two carriers account for the bulk of capacity, with other carriers like SpiceJet (SG), and Akasa Air (QP) contributing supplementary services.
Key Takeaways
- Delhi’s Dominance: Seven out of the top 15 routes originate from Delhi, reflecting its central role in India’s aviation network serving a range of traffic.
- Business-Driven Demand: Major business hubs like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are included in many of these routes, driving high frequency and capacity.
India’s domestic aviation market continues to be the fastest-growing one in the world. The consistent demand on these routes demonstrates the demand for large and frequent connectivity between key metropolitan centers and regional hubs.
Feature Image by Sandeep | Atc Spotter
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