This data, compiled by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, makes for interesting reading. Overall the market grew by 21%, a really strong performance. India’s largest private airline group, Jet Airways and JetLite, handled 1.2m passengers in June, while Kingfisher was the largest stand-alone carrier with 994,000 passengers and a 21.8% domestic market share.

While it is clearly LCCs that are driving the growth, Air India also saw robust growth. It appears that India's LCCs are set to handle two thirds of the market in 2010.  But in 2004 they only has 2% market share. So the change has been dramatic. Clearly the shock on Air India has been nothing short of terrifying. No wonder it seems like a deer in the headlights. It does not help that the state continues to ensure too many jobs for pals at the state carrier.

Note also the high load factors reported – seven airlines exceed 80%. It is little wonder then why Airbus and Boeing are paying such close attention.  And load factors are growing – so there is clearly a need for capacity. Given infrastructure difficulties, it may be that Indian domestic services really should start to consider larger aircraft. Widebody domestic service cannot be too far off. And yet, after all this, India's railways still carry more people in one day than its airlines handle in a year. Weird.

In other news:

• BA reports
• Aer Lingus strike action – really
• SRB stirs Australian pot
• Southwest soars

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