Earlier this year, IndiGo on several occasions came close to AI-domestic's passenger numbers but the gap widened between the two in past two to three months. But November, which saw the highest-ever domestic flyer numbers for a month, saw IndiGo finally overtaking the Maharaja. While IndiGo did not comment on the development, an AI official said: "We suffer from an image issue of being a fullservice airline without a domestic lowcost offshoot like JetLite, Jet Konnect or Kingfisher Red. People perceive us to be expensive, while our fares may be lower."

Successive AI managements have been talking in vain for years now that the Maharaja's international LCC, AI Express, should begin domestic operations. Jet and Kingfisher operate over 70% of their flights on their LCC versions.

IndiGo, which currently has 32 Airbus A-320s in operation (the number may go up to 34 by year-end) managed to fill its planes to near capacity last month due to the unprecedented demand that is continuing in December too. Air India has 72 aircraft of A-320 family in its fleet, which are used for both domestic and international flights.

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