IATA: Indian Emerged as World’s 5th Biggest Aviation Market

Current Context: India ranked as the 5th largest aviation market globally in IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) 2024, released on August 4, 2025.

• The country handled 241 million passengers in 2024, surpassing Japan (205 million) and trailing only the US, China, UK, and Spain.
• The Mumbai–Delhi route ranked 7th globally among the busiest airport pairs, with 5.9 million flyers.
• India’s aviation sector grew 11.1% year-on-year, driven by rising domestic demand and expanding infrastructure.
• The ranking was published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing over 350 airlines worldwide.
• Globally, premium class travel rose 11.8%, and narrow-body aircraft like Boeing B737 and Airbus A320 dominated operations.
• Asia-Pacific routes led the global rankings, with Jeju–Seoul topping the list at 13.2 million passengers.

Question:

Q.1 According to the IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) 2024, what is India’s global rank in terms of aviation market size by passenger volume in 2024?
a) 3rd
b) 4th
c) 5th
d) 6th

Answer: c) India ranked as the 5th largest aviation market in 2024, as per IATA's WATS report, handling 241 million passengers.