India achieved the fastest domestic passenger growth in 2015, a leading global airlines association has said.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its "World Air Transport Statistics", released on Tuesday, that India achieved an annual growth of 18. 8 per cent in a market of 80 million domestic passengers during 2015.
"India's performance surpassed that of Russia (11. 9 per cent growth, in a market of 47 million domestic passengers), China (9. 7 per cent growth, in a market of 394 million domestic passengers) and the United States (5. 4 per cent growth, in a market of 708 million domestic passengers), " IATA said.
Tony Tyler, Director General and Chief Executive of IATA, elaborated that in 2015 airlines ferried 3. 6 billion passengers and transported 52. 2 million tonnes of cargo.
"Last year airlines safely carried 3. 6 billion passengers - - the equivalent of 48 per cent of the Earth's population - - and transported 52. 2 million tonnes of cargo worth around $6 trillion.
In doing so, we supported some $2. 7 trillion in economic activity and 63 million jobs, " Tyler said.