NEW DELHI: The domestic aviation sector has witnessed an impressive surge in passenger traffic during the first eight months with a rise of 38.27 per cent as compared to the same period in the previous year, said a Ministry of Civil Aviation official. The recent data analysis by the Ministry reveals that from Jan-Aug 2023, domestic airlines carried a staggering 1190.62 lakh passengers, reflecting an extraordinary increase of 38.27 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. “August alone showcased a monthly growth rate of 23.13 per cent, propelling passenger numbers to 148.27 lakh. This surge in traffic is indicative of the industry’s resilience and recovery from the challenges posed by the pandemic,” the official added. Despite the impressive growth in passenger traffic, it is worth noting that the overall cancellation rate for scheduled domestic airlines in August this year was a mere 0.65 per cent, the data revealed. During August this year, a total of 288 passenger-related complaints had been received by scheduled domestic airlines, with a complaint rate of around 0.23 per 10,000 passengers carried.