MUMBAI, JUN 25 :  Airline companies in India will fly more than 42,200 domestic flights within India in June. This is an increase of 25% in the number of flights and 5.7 million seats, a 43% rise in the number of seats in comparison to June 2006. These are the findings of OAG, a global data solutions company for the aviation sector in its latest survey. OAG is a global partner of CAPA.

The Mumbai airport is the busiest in the country, followed by Delhi. The Indian aviation market is still in its infancy in consumer penetration, and will almost certainly continue to enjoy high growth rates, according to airline officials.

Delhi, on the other hand, posted a 20% growth in the number of flights and 32% in the number of seats this June over the same month in 2006.

Says Duncan Alexander, vice-president, business development and industry relations at OAG, ?We have compiled the frequency of flights that take off from the Mumbai airport and the seat capacity depending on the advance booking made by inbound air travellers in India.?

He added that worldwide, there has been a growth of 5% in flight frequencies and 6% in passengers and specifically in India the growth in the month of June has been tremendous.

Meanwhile, carriers like Jet Airways have grabbed a 27% market share in the number of flight frequencies and seats, Indian Airlines follows with a 17% share, Kingfisher Airlines has a 10% share, Air Deccan 9%, Air Sahara 5%, SpiceJet 5%, Go Air 4% and Indigo 3 %.

However, an official from Indian Airlines said, ?The increase in air travel in our company is basically due to our marketing strategies. We have ?flexi fare? or ?easy fare? schemes where we offer four levels of fares for our customers. Level 4 is the most economical, preceded by level 3, 2 and 1.?

The official added that affordability and the general aviation boom should also be factored in while assessing the growth in the sector on a broader basis.

Attributing the improved frequency and passenger growth in Kingfisher Airlines due to the increase in the number of its aircraft, Manoj Chacko, general manager, sales says, ?Last June, we had 18 aircraft and this year we have two more. Also, factors like affordability and quality of in-flight service are to be considered.?
source: Financial Express

Viewed: 303 views | Rating: (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...