India saw a decline in jet fuel demand in February 2025, following two consecutive months of record-high consumption that began in December 2024. The surge in demand during the previous months was fueled by the Maha Kumbh event, which attracted both domestic and international travelers.
According to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC), India’s aviation turbine fuel (ATF) consumption increased by 3.7 per cent year-on-year to 731,000 tonnes in February 2025. However, it experienced a 6.3 per cent decrease compared to the previous month.
The Maha Kumbh, which is considered the world’s largest gathering of people professing a single faith, concluded on February 26, 2025, during the Maha Shivratri festival. The event saw an estimated attendance of around 66 crore people, beginning on January 13.
In January 2025, India’s ATF usage surged by nearly 9 per cent year-on-year to 780,000 tonnes. Domestic airlines transported 1.46 crore passengers, reflecting an 11.28 per cent growth on both an annual and monthly basis. Data for February 2025 is still pending.
The peak demand for jet fuel was recorded in December 2024 at 778,000 tonnes, driven by the holiday season and increased travel activity. Prior to this, ATF consumption had reached highs of 757,000 tonnes in October 2024 and 758,000 tonnes in March 2024.
The average monthly consumption of ATF from October 2024 to February 2025 stood at around 759,000 tonnes, attributed to the holiday season and festive periods in the country. The rise in air travel during January and February 2025 was also supported by the Maha Kumbh event and wedding season.
The government estimates that jet fuel consumption will grow by almost 10 per cent annually in FY26, the highest among all refined petroleum products except natural gas. PPAC projects India’s ATF usage to increase by 9.82 per cent in FY26 to 9.95 million tonnes, compared to a revised estimate of 9.06 million tonnes in FY25.
India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) expects passenger traffic to grow by 8-10 per cent year-on-year in FY26, driven by robust growth in metro and tier 1 and 2 cities, as well as government plans to expand airports and routes. The resumption of business travel and tourism is also expected to support passenger growth.
In contrast, the consumption of diesel and petrol both witnessed a decline on a monthly basis for the fourth consecutive month in February 2025. Diesel consumption fell by 1.5 per cent year-on-year to 7.33 million tonnes, while petrol consumption increased by 4.6 per cent year-on-year to 3.16 million tonnes.
Overall, the aviation sector in India is experiencing fluctuations in demand due to various factors, including events, festivals, and economic conditions.
