The hike in aviation turbine fuel prices is likely to lead to a 10-14 per cent increase in fares on metro routes and long-haul flights. The oil companies hiked ATF prices by 14 per cent as a result of global rise in crude oil prices over the last few months. Now, most airlines, including Jet Airways and SpiceJet, are looking at imposing a differential surcharge - a smaller increase on shorter routes than longer routes.
With better utilisation of slots, foreign flying rights, and greater international connections, the operator of India's largest airport feels a privatised Air India will bring commercial benefit to Delhi airport and help it revive quicker from the pandemic shock. Delhi is the largest hub for Air India, with most of its long-haul flights to the US and Europe being operated from here. The airport plans to give its most modern terminal 3 (T3) exclusively to the Tata Group.
A resurgent SpiceJet is spreading its wings and Vistara is set to challenge Jet on long-haul routes in the coming years.
IndiGo will complete five years of operations in August 2011, which makes it eligible to fly overseas routes.
AirAsia's Rs 5 basic fare offer has triggered competition and criticism from rivals, with market leader IndiGo launching a Rs 1 basic fare on AirAsia's inaugural routes and SpiceJet Chief Operating Officer Sanjiv Kapoor questioning the silence of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the price war.
"The return fare on economy class to most European capitals from Mumbai are close to 50,000 plus. If an LCC can offer direct connectivity for a basic fare of 25,000 with additional top ups for meals, baggage and blankets, which further takes the fare to, say, 35,000, it is still a value deal."
Domestic air traffic clocked slowest growth in 4 years on high fares and flight cancellations.
Domestic budget carriers SpiceJet, Indigo and GoAir have rolled out another sale offer with fares starting from Rs 1,699 for a limited period on domestic routes.
Despite having started at least a decade later than Jet Airways, IndiGo accounts for the lion's share in the domestic market
Market estimates suggest the airline has already totted up Rs 1,800 crore of losses in FY20, and FY21 is expected to see losses in the region of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 3,000 crore Many in the sector say that Vistara lacks the light-footedness of the airlines with which it competes, reports Anjuli Bhargava.
The fare will be cheaper as it will be capped at Rs 2,500 per passenger.
Anticipating a weak demand in the traditionally lean January-March period, most domestic airlines on Tuesday reduced fares massively after no-frills carrier SpiceJet announced a steep 50 per cent discount on base fares and fuel surcharges across sectors.
On Tuesday 55 flights were diverted, over 200 flights were cancelled because of rain, low visibility and poor braking action on secondary runway
The Kumbh Mela is expected to draw close to 100 million visitors in all, including pilgrims, politicians, celebrities and corporate leaders, from around the world.
After being hit by a fuel price hike and capacity cut, it may be happy times again for the airline industry this festive season. While Kingfisher is looking at adding at least 15 new flights in the winter season, competitors Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and Paramount are adding over 30 new flights together (arrivals and departures); they will do this through a combination of better utilisation of existing aircraft and inducting new fleet.
Analysts say the 777 is Boeing's most profitable plane, thanks largely to the 777-300ER, a 365-seat version that began operations in 2004.
India may make peak-time allocation of airport slots for its airlines an essential part of any bilateral signed in future. Arindam Majumder reports.
UDAN demonstrates that good policy-making can fulfill important public requirements without requiring budgetary support, says MoS for civil aviation Jayant Sinha.
AirAsia's competitors are offering more reliable services.
Aviation companies plan to join hands for importing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in a bid to bring down their fuel bills.
Only a 5-year-old airline with 20 planes is allowed to fly abroad.
After Air India and Jet slashed ticket prices, low-cost carriers respond with 5-20 per cent cuts; likely to spur air travel market's sluggish growth.
'There were moments when you didn't know if you will get out of there alive.'
Vistara was launched on January 9.
In a major boost to private airlines, especially IndiGo and SpiceJet, the civil aviation ministry has lifted the freeze on them to expand abroad.
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The no-frills brand is poised for a big leap by debuting in some international routes as well.
On Wednesday, Air India had carried out a test flight landing at the naval base.
Analysts expect holiday fares to inch up further closer to the travel dates, but airlines may still not be able to fully recover higher costs as fuel costs remain elevated
Airline wants to fly to West Asia, Southeast Asia.
Air Carnival can make quick progress by stepping into the space that SpiceJet has left empty.
Or else customers will face capacity shortages and high fares.
Else customers will face capacity shortages and high fares.
According to sources in the aviation ministry, only State-owned Air India and private carrier AirAsia India have agreed to pay the surcharge.
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After rationalising flights and routes, major domestic airlines like Kingfisher, Jet Airways and SpiceJet are introducing sharp cutbacks in staff and salaries to cope with slower passenger growth and rising aviation turbine fuel costs. Manpower typically accounts for 10-15 per cent of an airline's total costs.
Incumbent airlines oppose the proposal.
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In contrast to its global peers, a lion's share of Delhi airport's growth came from domestic flyers, which, at 46.6 million, makes up for 73 per cent of the total number of passengers.