Apart from being a highly lucrative market, Indian Aviation industry is equally competitive. As per reports, commercial flights in India offer their services at comparatively cheaper price in comparison to European, American and Asian counterparts, making SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir domestic flights the cheapest. Prices were dropped down even further as soon as Malaysia-based AirAsia commenced its operations in the country. Similarly, another vital change in pricing can be seen in the following months with the arrival of Tata and Singapore Airlines (SIA) joint venture – Vistara – in the market. As per reports, it has received the air operator permit (AOP) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
A few days back, Vistara successfully carried out flight tests in the presence of DGCA officials. It is mandatory test – basically a part of the safety audit – for all carriers before they are issued AOP. The company scheduled its launch in the last quarter of 2014, but completion of other legal obligations took more time than expected, leading to delay. Now, it is expected to start operations from first quarter of 2015, and this flying license paves its way forward. Owned by two conglomerates in their own field – Tata and SIA – this carrier is expected to offer cheapest domestic flights without compromising with the quality of services. The company said that they will soon make announcements regarding the sale of tickets on different routes.
The airline said that it will soon make announcements on the start of sales, routes and schedules. It currently has two Airbus 320s, soon to be joined by 18 more models, including the latest Neos. By the end of March, the carrier will receive the delivery of five other aircraft. This start-up is the third full-service airline of the country after Air India and Jet Airways. It is planning to operate over 80 flights in the beginning, and gradually increase the number up to 400 in the coming three-four years. These operations are expected to be launched on the trunk route, including destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jammu, Srinagar, Patna and Ahmedabad. After DGCA reaches to a decision regarding the 5/20 rule, the airline will commence its international operations also.
The joint venture of Tata and Singapore Airlines (SIA) – Vistara – is a full-fledged carrier based in India. This airline scheduled commencement of its operations by the end of the year 2014, but as per recent reports, it has been delayed due to flying permit issues. The airline applied for the permit back in April, 2014 and planned a launch by September. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is thoroughly checking every aspect, and the carrier is in the last phase of getting Air Operators Permit (AOP). The carrier will operate most of its flights from the primary hub at Delhi airport, and domestic flight booking options include Bangalore, Goa, Jammu, Hyderabad, Patna and Chandigarh for now. It will add new routes with the passage of time, and has also booked some slots at Terminal 3, often booked for international operations.
A Vistara spokesperson said that the company is working with regulators to speed up the remaining process, and as soon as it gets the certificate, bookings will be open for fliers. Tata – one of the conglomerates of India – owns 51 per cent shares in the venture and rest 49 per cent are owned by SIA. As per speculations, it aims at providing services offered by full-fledged airlines at prices that can compete with low-cost carriers (LCCs). So, travellers booking Bangalore to Patna or Delhi to Srinagar flights can now enjoy top-notch services at economical fares. It is speculated that the onset of this airline will affect LCCs like SpiceJet, GoAir and IndiGo as well as Jet Airways and Air India.
The airline planned to take 20 Airbus 320s, including the latest offering (Neos) from the manufacturer. Two aircraft have already been delivered and the third is in the line, but delay in the grant of AOP has slowed down the process. It is planning to operate around 80 flights in the first year, and raise the number to 300 in the following three-four years. These flights will include international destinations also in addition to Indian Tier II and III cities. This is expected to leave a great impact on the industry and existing operators of the country.
Technologies used in the aviation industry, including ingeniously designed engines, navigation tools and in-flight amenities have been replaced with new ones. Earlier, most of the metro cities were served by various airlines, but now flights to Bhopal, Varanasi, Lucknow and many other II as well as III tier cities can be availed as well. In addition to this, management strategies have also been revised to meet the dynamic market challenges and this is the reason that some changes are needed in aviation rules also. Although, a number of new regulations have been introduced, but old ones can also be seen revised in the coming months.
In response to issues regarding licences to Malaysia-based AirAsia and soon to be launched Vistara for global operation, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) commented on the 5/20 rule. As per this rule, every airline set up in India needs to have a fleet size of at least 20 aircraft and must complete 5 years of operation, then only licence for international operation will be given to it. However, FIA, formed back in 2006 by Air India, SpiceJet, GoAir, IndiGo and Jet Airways, resisted this policy and said that it needs to be changed. A few months back, this law was asked to be waived off, but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) kept it intact.
However, one of the DGCA ministers said that no other country follows this rule; hence, it can be removed from the list pre-requisite conditions. The relevance of this law has been lost because of increased safety standards and application of the latest technologies as well as attempt of global operators to cater niche markets of various countries. The Associate Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) also released a paper mentioning that this policy of government has no logic in the current market scenario. This policy was drawn almost a decade back, and many new carriers have entered in the industry since then, as well as the country has undergone significant changes regarding air travel demands, since then. Today, air ticket fare is almost half of what it used to be 10 years back.
One of the carriers of the country – SpiceJet – has emerged as the first choice of travellers in case of domestic journeys, in the past few years. This low-cost carrier (LCC) is owned by the Sun Group and has its administrative and corporate offices at Chennai and Gurgaon, respectively. The carrier has managed to attract travellers who used traditional modes of transportation by a highly effective pricing strategy. Under various schemes and discount offers, the cost of SpiceJet flight booking is even lower than train tickets on many routes. When this LCC entered the market, it offered tickets at INR 99 (exclusive of taxes and surcharges). People can ensure best value for their money by reserving seats with this airline to various national and international destinations.
International Routes and Domestic Sectors
The booking option list of SpiceJet comprises more than 40 cities. International destinations include Sharjah, Colombo, Kabul and Kathmandu, whereas domestic include every nook and cranny of the nation, from Thoothukudi district on one hand to Srinagar on the other. Most of the bookings are made for Delhi Mumbai flights or for destinations like Bengaluru, Lucknow, Chennai, Chandigarh and Goa. People can opt for low cost flights to enjoy unparalleled services provided by this LCC.
Services offered Onboard
It provides an array of services that makes the overall travel experience truly satisfying. The airline has brought tremendous changes in its existing services along with addition new ones have been added to the list. Apart from booking online tickets, passengers can also opt for web check-in process that saves a great deal of time. Onboard facilities include meals and bottled water served on demand, Wi-Fi and headphones access. It provides direct, indirect and non-stop flights on many routes. The carrier has gained significant market share in the previous few months, and experts credit it to offers rolled out in respective months as well as capacity addition in the past few months. It also replaced the flag carrier – Air India – from the third position in the ranking list on the basis of market share. As per data revealed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), this Sun Group-owned airline registered maximum load factor among contemporaries in the recent quarter.
The global travel industry is expanding and is robust in growing economies like India and China. As per reports, travel sales are expected to reach $830 billion in the year 2017, in spite of cheap flight tickets offered by carriers. Despite influential role of new economies, North America is leading when market value is considered, and annual growth rate has been estimated at 7 per cent. However, one thing that is common in all the markets is change in the method of seat reservation. The culture of going to the counter is coming to an end as most of the people use internet services or get their tickets booked by agents.
The Emerging Trend
In places like Spain and the United Kingdom, online travel sales accounts for more than 50 per cent. Asia-Pacific is one of the fastest growing travel markets and its value increased to around $91 billion in the year 2014. With the onset of new technologies, and penetration of mobiles and tablets, online flight booking has been replaced with mobile travel purchase. Currently, Japan is the leading country in the regions as far as digital booking is considered, but China and India are catching up quite fast. Improvements in the basic infrastructure and increased access to the internet may act as a catalyst in digital flight booking.
Seat reservations, made by using mobile devices, have increased by more than 20 per cent in the first six months of 2014. When compared to desktops or laptops, it is around 10 times higher in case of booking. Not only air tickets, but car rentals and hotel bookings by using smart devices also increased in the past few years. An average of $600 more were spent on the reservations made by an iPhone or iPad as compared to Android-based devices. However, the sum total of Android bookings is higher in value as well as number.
Effect on the Cost of Seat Reservation
Apart from simplifying the booking process and increasing the reach, it has also reduced the cost of operation to a great extent. The manpower and machines needed by carriers to generate the ticket as well as to distribute it, has been reduced significantly. Now, travellers can book tickets using mobile phones or other devices. Travel portals have launched their applications that can be downloaded by users to book tickets anytime and anywhere. As per reports, in-app bookings account for around 12 per cent out of total reservations done using the phone.
How does it Work?
Simplicity is the first reason that it is preferred by passengers over other methods. Just with an internet connection and smartphone, travellers can handle most of the transactions in minutes. It usually includes information regarding all the flights operated on the required routes along with secure online payment option. After making a seat reservation, passengers can opt for online check-in process, view the flight schedule, track current status and other flight information. They can also amend dates or request cancellation using the same application. In some cases, passengers may have to visit the office in person to cancel tickets. Apart from this, a valid identity card is required at the terminal for boarding the flight.
The leading low-cost carrier (LCC) of India – IndiGo – recently received its 100th aircraft. Based in Gurgaon, it operates hundreds of flights with a fleet size of over 80 models, from the primary hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), Delhi. This airline is the largest service provider in the region with the market share of more than 32 per cent. It provides cheap airline tickets for over 40 national and international destinations. In order to reduce the overhead cost, this LCC operates Airbus models only, and the recently received is an A320. It is a part of the bulk order placed by the airline back in 2005; some of them are still in the process of manufacturing.
Apart from new orders, it also signed a deal with the Tigerair regarding 12 models on lease and these deliveries started in the month of October. These additions in the fleet have been reflected in the IndiGo airlines booking option list as well. It initiated operations on new routes and increased the number of flights on the existing ones. As per reports, the new aircraft landed at the IGI Airport in the morning, making this carrier a part of the league of Jet Airways and Air India with more than 100 aircraft. It placed an order with the France-based manufacturer – Airbus – for 250 aircraft, one of the largest orders placed in the aviation industry that has been evaluated at a price of approximately $25.5 billion. The fast growing LCC is a loyal customer of Airbus models and has placed many bulk orders with the company since its inception.
The president of this carrier said that collection of the 100th model is a milestone. It is expected that many such milestones will be created in the coming years. The Indian aviation industry is enjoying a good period in terms of business as a significant number of new fliers avail these services every day. With the supportive policies and terms of the government, many global airlines want to set up their airline in the country. AirAsia – the Malaysia based airline is a recent example to be followed by Vistara.
The world has become a global village with the onset of revolutionary technologies in the communication industry. People belonging to different parts of the world can get connected through video chat or voice calls in just a few seconds. This increased communication led to expansion of business as well as personal relations with people of different cities and countries, which in turn increases the need to cover long distance journeys for personal meetings, when required. People involved in such cross-country or cross-city businesses often opt for air booking to save their precious time and reach the destination without any hassle. Significant reduction in air fares has increased the affordability, and hence reports show a long jump in the number of fliers in the recent years.
The cost aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is extremely high in India as compared to other parts of the world. In order to provide a platform for new entrants and motivate existing player, respective authorities are making efforts to bring it down. A reduction of approximately 7.3 per cent in the existing prices announced by them has come as a sigh of relief. This is the fourth time a cut in ATF has been done and it is expected that low-cost carriers (LCCs) will make the most of it by reducing the cost of seat reservation. The chief operating officer (COO) of SpiceJet said that the load factor was around 86 per cent because of festivity season, backed by heavy discounts. However, a further fall in the prices will certainly increase SpiceJet booking in the coming months.
As per reports, the jet fuel rate for Delhi is approximately INR 62537.93 per kilolitre after reduction of INR 4987.70. The ATF in Mumbai is comparative high and stands at INR 64414.98 per kilolitre. Similarly, it varies with different states because of difference in the taxation policies. Cheaper procurement cost due to declining international oil prices led to reduction in price. As per industry experts, 40 per cent of the cost seat reservation with airlines is constituted by jet fuel. It is expected that India-based airlines may reduce tickets prices and Jet Airways, Air India, GoAir and IndiGo booking can increase in the following months.
The low-cost carrier (LCC) of India, GoAir recently launched flights to Bhubaneswar and from Bhubaneswar. This gives an option to travellers to commute to this city economically. Prior to this, full-fledged carriers -- Air India and IndiGo provided services on these routes. However, the commencement of operations by GoAir will increase the competition and may regulate prices in favour of travellers. This Mumbai-based airline owned by the Wadia Group already operates flights to Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and other metro cities, but is now planning to expand its network in the Tier II and III cities. Bhubaneswar is the 22nd city in the list of its network, which is expected to be accompanied by international destinations in the coming years.
This LCC currently operates over 140 destinations of the country, and may start global operations by the month of May, 2015. It posted over INR 100 crore profit in the previous year, and is expecting to surpass the record in this year. As per reports, the flight occupancy is quite high, and it already posted revenue of over 50 crores in the half yearly statement. Apart from this, it asked for the permission regarding international flight schedule, after receiving the 20th aircraft and completion of five years of operations in the industry. It stands at par on all the terms and conditions lay down by ministries regarding the global operation, and may soon launch flights to Dubai or Singapore at a low airfare.
The chief executive officer of the company said that the carrier is planning to launch short or medium-haul flights. In the initial years, destinations that take around four hours or less to reach will be added in the list of operations. However, currently it is increasing options for travellers who are planning their trip to Odisha. People can board these flights from Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata to Biju Patnaik International Airport of Bhubaneswar, and can return to same destinations. The first day operation on 26th of October led to changes in pricing mechanism of carriers already operating in the region. As per reports the cost reserving seats in these flights is between INR 4000 to 6500, which was over 6500 in the previous few weeks. Passengers can expect decrease in airfare even further as soon as other airlines commence operations on these routes.
With the onset new technologies and infrastructure in the aviation industry, the price of flight booking has been reduced significantly. The automation of reservation system and de-regulation of the industry were the milestones in the functioning and restructuring of the whole process. These not only affected the process of reserving a seat with different carriers, but also changed the approach of people towards air travel. The advent of low-cost carriers in the late 1990s affirmed this wave of change, and perhaps introduced most drastic changes in all the aspect, starting from price. Not only air travel, but other modes of transportation also underwent this process of modification. Now, travellers can opt for any of these flights to go to new places or explore old ones. However, in case of long distances that can take hours to reach via car or train, flights are usually preferred. In recent days, it has been observed that even for short-haul journeys people opt for air travel because of its time and cost efficiency. Here is a list of tips that can prove to be cost-reducing while reserving seats with any airline.
Timing and Advance Booking
The air ticket price is usually high during festivals or peak tourist seasons. Hence, experts advise on avoiding these times while planning the trip. Apart from this, the booking in advance can save a great deal of money as most of the flights are vacant, and carriers offer them at low cost to achieve minimum load factor for operation. This advance period may vary from three months to 20 days, but after that, there are less chances of cracking a lucrative deal. Last-minute deals are treated as the last resort as the chances of success are less than 30 per cent. However, it is worth noting that booking in advance for festive seasons also do not help; hence those times should be avoided if possible.
Look Beyond Price
Most of the people compare ticket prices on the basis of price. However, there are several other aspects that need to be considered like baggage allowance, meals offered and other services included in the ticket price. It has been seen that the lowest priced deals do not always give the best value for money. The cost is one of the most important factors, but others that may affect the travelling experience and needed to be kept in mind before ticket booking include the number of stops, flight and connecting timings.
Number of Stops
A direct flight to the destination is often the best option, but it is usually priced quite high. Hence, people can book a flight with one or two stopovers. This will neutralise the total cost of travel at the expense of precious time. However, it is not the best option for people who have to attend urgent business meeting or family event.
Connecting Options
There are certain routes, where a direct flight is not operated due to technological constraints or because of the revenue issues. Travellers, who have to travel to such destinations, need to check for airports on which these deals may land them. They can easily get connecting flights from popular airports. These little things help passengers in getting the cheapest deals, which offer the greatest value as well.
The Romania-based low-cost carrier (LCC) recently announced its flight schedule for the coming summer. It started operations in the year 2004, and mostly operates out of Bucharest-Henri Coanda. However, in its initial years, domestic flights were also operated by the airline, and then entire operations were taken by Management Solution SRL. There are certain terms and conditions of the deal that still need to be approved by both the parties. As per reports, the load factor was recorded 92 per cent, and the carrier was evaluated at 150 million Euros.
Its primary hub is at Baneasa Airport and the secondary base at Bacau International Airport. These bases may be shifted to a new airport, as planned by the government. Currently, it manages flights to around 26 destinations along with charter services in Southern Europe, with more than 10 aircraft. Travellers can opt for online air ticket booking with this airline to these destinations after going through the recently-launched schedule. Apart from this, it has also introduced a smart flying concept for frequent flyers. It is dedicated to people who have to travel quite often due to business or other reasons. They have to pay less on advance bookings, and the sooner they reserve the seat, the greater value of money they get.
The airline has asked tourists to make their travel plans as soon as possible to avail its services on lowest fares. For a vacation or holiday, they can choose cities in Italy, England, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Bacau or Ireland. These offers are valid for a specific time and are available on making booking on pre-decided dates.
The 2015 Blue Air Summer Schedule
As per the announcement, it will be serving five flights every week from Larnaca to Bucharest along with a number of daily flights on popular routes. Travellers can find the full list on travel portals along with added information regarding booking. They can book it directly from there or can do their share of research for future reference. This airline keeps introducing such offers, and it is expected that the booking will increase as many fliers keep looking for cheap flight tickets on such routes.
The Indian aviation market is one of the most lucrative ones, and the support given by government eases things for carriers operating in the country. This is the reason global carriers want to start operation in this country; and the Malaysia-based carrier AirAsia is a fine example of it. The expansion of services to tier 2 and 3 cities has developed an extensive network connecting them closely with each other. Apart from this, the cost of booking air ticket has also reduced significantly along with rise in the accessibility. People who used traditional modes of transport are now shifting to air travel because of its time efficiency and effectiveness. They book flight tickets in advance in order to save their precious time, and spend it with their friends and family instead.
With the growing competition, airlines are trying to provide best-in-class services at the cheapest possible costs to attract fliers. This increases the affordability; hence, is becoming popular in the country. It no longer is a status symbol or a service availed by elites only. Now, a larger chunk of society commutes from one city to another through flights, especially if the train journey takes 20 to 30 hours or more. The simplified ticket reservation with airlines and improvements in the check-in process are also some of the reasons travellers prefer it. However, in the hustle-bustle, many forget to carry important documents or carry something which is prohibited. Here is a list of tips that can be followed by travellers while boarding flights to Mumbai, Lucknow, Nagpur or any other city.
Plan Itinerary
It is suggested that travellers plan their entire itinerary in advance, especially people who are going to the destination for the first time. This will help them in reducing chaos during the trip, and give enough time to explore places of the destination. Instead of wasting time on taking decision after arrival, they can use their leisure time and decide on what all sites they want to explore. However, those who are going back to their home or for business purpose can decide in advance the schedule, and book the return ticket accordingly. Most of the times, the cost of booking tickets of a round trip is cheaper than any one-way flight.
Grab the Cheapest Deal
The travel duration between cities of a country is usually 2-3 hours; hence, travellers can grab the cheapest deals without worrying about travelling conditions. They can fly with low-cost carriers (LCCs) as they usually include charges for basic amenities in the ticket price, and operate on the lowest possible costs. Apart from this, they offer the latest in-flight amenities during the journey, which can be availed by paying a few extra bucks.
Provide Correct Information while Ticket Booking
A spelling error or missing digit in the identification number can prove to be a costly affair for travellers. It may take hours to deal with mismatched information while the check-in process. This may delay plans or may result in denial of boarding pass, in the worst case scenario. Experts advise on cross checking all the details before final submission and carrying required documents while travelling. If these small things are taken care of, the travel can be smooth and hassle-free.
Indian low cost carriers (LCCs) are trying their best to offer the cheapest air tickets possible to fliers. In order to make money, such budget airlines are expanding their routes and destinations. Another common practice of such budget aviation firms is to have their bases at more than one places in a country. Such an arrangement makes flying to a large number of destinations comparatively easy. One of the main hubs for LCCs in India is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. It is the busiest airfield in India by passenger traffic and second largest by cargo movements. Together with the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, it handles almost half of the air traffic of South Asia.
The site was built for military purposes during the Second World War, a service that it provided till 1962. In the said year, the aviation operations in the national capital were shifted to the IGI airport from Safdarjung Airfield due to increasing traffic. It now works under the Airports Authority of India Limited – a government company. In 2006, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a subsidiary of GMR group was vested with the task of operating and managing the air-transit hub of the nation. The complex is about 15 km from New Delhi Railway Station and is connected to the city via metro, buses and taxis.
Runways, Terminals 1C and 1D: Domestic
It is situated in the south-western part of the city and occupies a total area of around 6300 acres. There are three runways, catering to the high aircraft movement, numbered as: 11/29, 10/28 and 09/27. Runway 11/29 is the primary asphalt pavement for flights, is 4.4 km long, 60 metres wide and equipped with CAT III system to facilitate movements during low visibility. Runway 10/28 is 3.8 km long and 50 metres wide while runway 09/27 is 2.8 km in length and 45 metres in width. To ease congestion and handle more flights, DIAL operates all the three runways simultaneously. There are two main terminals catering to passengers: Terminals 1 and 3. Terminal 1 is further split into two sections: 1C is used for arrivals by GoAir, SpiceJet and IndiGo while the other is used by the same companies for departures.
Terminal 3: International and Domestic
Terminal 3 (T3) was inaugurated in 2010 and is now used for international operations by Indian as well as foreign companies. With an area of 502000 sq. metres, it can handle an astounding 34 million passengers annually. Its first floor is used for arrivals and upper floor is utilised for departures. It is carpeted, well-lit, spacious and decorated with statues and other things. This mammoth building has 15 X-ray machines, 78 aerobridges, 168 check-in counters, 48 contact stands, 95 immigration counters, 54 bays for aircraft-parking and 14 baggage conveyors. It also has travelators and escalators to allow people to get from one place and level within the building to the another easily. Also in this building are lounges of various travelling classes and airlines, shops, restaurants and duty-free liquor/tobacco stores. Apart from international flights, Air India – the flag carrier of the country – also operates domestic flights, for instance flights to Gwalior, from this site.
AirAsia, the Malaysian airline, has been judged the best low-cost carrier (LCC) at the World Travel Awards, held in New Delhi. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company said that they were extremely glad to receive the award third time in a row. He further added that it shows that the world is appreciating the effort that the carrier has put in to make air travel better. Established by a government-owned firm in 1993, it went private in 2001 and since, has seen an upheaval in profits. It now has many subsidiaries, such as AirAsia India, which give many domestic flight offers to people in the largest democracy of the world.
In 2001, at a time when it was extremely crash-strapped, it was bought and bailed out by the Tony Fernandes-owned Tune Group for around USD 11 million. He introduced fares of as low as USD 0.27 or MYR 1, starting with its primary hub at the Kuala Lumpur airport. A secondary hub was established in Senai International Airport, close to Singapore, and the first international flight to Bangkok was launched. The coming years saw air services being started on more routes and in 2006, it announced its plans to start flights to China, Vietnam, India and Indonesia. Two years later, the carrier revealed the addition of 106 new routes to its list of 60.
Current Situation and Aftermath
The Indian subsidiary of AirAsia was set up in 2013, with an initial investment of USD 50 million from the parent company. On 30th May, 2014, after getting the final permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it revealed its first Indian flight between Bengaluru and Goa. The conferring of the said award on the carrier may further intensify the already explosive aviation competition in the country. Air travel is constantly on the rise in the country, and more and more carriers are coming up with innovative schemes to attract customers and dominate the competition. In the coming days, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet offers relating to new routes and brought-down costs to compete with AirAisa may be a common phenomena.
Flight booking is constantly on the rise due to air travel becoming increasingly popular. Aviation is the speediest means to commute and in this fast-paced life, it is highly useful. Carriers are also regularly engaged in deals with major manufacturers to buy new aircraft in order to keep up with the rise in the number of travellers. Another idea behind acquiring more and more planes is to make as much profit as possible because nobody knows when the economy may face a slump. Airports too, keeping up with the demand, build new arrival and departure terminals, operate more than one runway simultaneously and construct hangars for keeping the planes safe. All such practices often lead to the airspace and runways being over-congested, which in turn leads to delays or sometimes even cancellations. The body that tries its best to keep planes arriving and departing on time is Air Traffic Control (ATC).
The Complete Control
ATC is based on the ground within airports and helps flights in take-off to landing. Avoiding on-ground and mid-air collisions, regulating traffic on runways and en flight, and directing/assisting the pilot are the primary duties of the body. The controllers are seated amongst sensors, screens and computers in the top-deck of a high tower near the primary runway. As soon as the flight reaches about 9-18 km near the airport, the local handlers swing into action. The most basic way of controlling movements within runways is by looking out of the window with or without binoculars. Their display systems include maps of the areas, position of planes, their tags, speed and altitude, all obtained from radars. Various other advanced systems are used by controllers to regulate the flow of planes in the airport or en route during unfavourable weather conditions. Duties of ATC are under three categories: ground, air or local and clearance delivery.
The Three Categories
Ground controllers see to the runways, taxiways and other areas where vehicles move about. Every mobile object, be it aircraft, buses, taxis or people, have to attain clearance from the tower to enter their territory. Such clearance is attained via signals, sent over radio or through flashing lights in specific patterns. With first-hand information of the ground situation, handlers can efficiently influence further activities of the air control. Local control is an ATC subsidiary, responsible for what happens on the asphalt airstrips. This arm clears machines for landing or take-off and can ask the pilot to re-attempt the above-said procedures if they deem conditions unsafe. To maintain the flight status efficiently, both the arms of the body have to be in a disciplined communication and synchronisation.
Clearance delivery issues the final permits before pilots take-off from or land at the strips and also co-ordinate on details of the flying-route. These regulators also guide pilots within their airspace and hand them over to the on-coming ATC and its airspace. Another important function of the tower is to give advice and directions to an airborne aircraft. This role becomes even more significant when the weather is bad and it is tough to fly. The information shared between these people includes the current and safe altitudes for flying or approaching the strip, distance between two aircraft and the ground situation.
The number of fliers is growing day by day as per International Aviation Transport Association (IATA). An addition of over 900 million passengers has been calculated in tenure of five years, starting from 2012. Most of them will be domestic fliers; hence airlines are adding capacity on small cities of the home country. India is one among them and is witnessing a fast pace in the aviation sector. This has attracted many new players in the market, including global players. For instance, AirAsia – a Malaysia-based carrier – recently started operating in the Indian market, and provides ultra cheap airline tickets to a number of destinations lying in the southern part of the country. It has recently started operations in non-metro cities such as Jaipur. Other full-fledged as well as low-cost carriers (LCCs) have also announced flights on such routes.
As per several researches and analysis, it has been found that demand of flights connecting small cities will rise in the coming months, and the signs can clearly be seen in the current scenario. Patna Airport is one of the busiest airports of the country, connecting Bihar with other states of the country. Millions of fliers board flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata as well as international destinations from terminals of the airport. Hence, leading carriers, especially LCCs, have launched new services to this city in the past few months. The state government has decided to extend the capacity of the terminal or may soon pass bills to build a new one because of the traffic.
Apart from this, GoAir recently made an announcement to commence services from and to Biju Patnaik Airport of Bhubaneswar after doing a thorough study. Air India and IndiGo provided their services to this city, but researches showed that the number of travellers is quite high; hence operation on this route can prove to be lucrative. The officials of the airline also expect an increase in the GoAir ticket booking after initiation of these scheduled flights. These reports emphasise on higher disposal income and rapid urbanisation as some of the important reasons, which have led to the boom in the industry. The number of passengers is expected to grow by 75 per cent, numerically over 217 million, in the next six years.
Analysts from the Centre for Aviation claim that much of the above-mentioned growth will come from smaller cities. As per records, a hike of 17 per cent has been recorded at these places since the year 2009. It is more than twice the growth recorded on popular metro routes. The government of the country is supportive and has recently announced construction of around 50 airports all across the nation to connect small towns. President of IndiGo, in agreement to all these statistics, said that opportunity is changing, and flights destined to these locations are fuller when compared to those operated on trunk routes. Zav Airways and Air Costa are planning to launch flights to the cities falling in the north-eastern and southern part of the nation by 2015, respectively.
Alliance Air was started as the low-cost carrier (LCC) of the Indian Airlines, which later merged with the national airline – Air India. After the deal was signed between both parties, its name was changed to Air India Regional, which currently caters to more than 190 flights every week. As a subsidiary of the flag carrier, it serves around 18 destinations of the country. It is listed among one of the most efficient airlines of the country and is planning to extend its unparalleled services in the north-eastern region. People will soon be able to book an online air ticket to cities falling in that region. Currently, it operates with a fleet size of five, and as soon as the plans are finalised, it may take some models on lease.
As per reports, the carrier is aiming at strengthening its position in the market and has recently been sought bidding for lease of turboprop models. Official sources reveal the fact that these 70-seater aircraft may be taken on lease for around 12 years that are scheduled to be deployed on new routes. The ATR 72-600 model is lashed with all economy seating – an ideal design for LCCs. It is expected that these machines will be taken on Dry lease, which means providence of aircraft without crew and the airline is expecting delivery by 2015-16. Now, apart from cheap flights to Allahabad and other northern cities, travellers can book flight to other parts of the country as well with this airline.
It has recently resumed its services to Guwahati and other four cities in the same region after North Eastern Council (NEC) extended its help financially by funding the losses caused while operating these flights. Silchar, Shillong, Lilabari and Tezpur are other destinations included in the list, which are also gateways to a number to tourist attractions. This will not only increase the accessibility, but also may lead to upward growth in the performance graph of the tourism industry. These resumed services are result of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between NEC and subsidiary of Air India. Under this, the total cost of operations will be revised quarterly and NEC will help the airline in obtaining subsidies on landing, jet fuel and other costs.
One of the leading low-cost carriers of the country – SpiceJet – is planning to implement new strategies to increase its profits and bookings. It has announced a number of sales and offers in the past few months, and air ticket booking with the airline has increased significantly due to this. It has become the largest service provider of the country as far as load factor is considered. In the previous quarter and months, it has recorded over 80 flight occupancy. Apart from this, it also stepped up in the ranking chart on the basis of market share, by pushing back Air India. This Sun Group-owned company has emerged as the first choice of fliers because of the cost efficiency and top-notch services.
It was started as an aviation foray of the Sun Group in the year 2005. The carrier has expanded its business in Indian as well as international market with a fast growth rate. Currently, it operates more than 350 flights everyday to various destinations with a fleet size of around 52 aircraft. However, the airline is planning to bring down the number of operating flights. As per reports, older models will be kept idle it is an attempt to lower the cost of operations as fuel efficiency of new aircraft is higher. The fleet of SpiceJet consists of efficient models like Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft and Boeing 737 Next Generation. However, some of them are quite old as well that increases the operational charges, and replacing them with new ones will prove to be beneficial for the carrier. It has placed an order of 57 new models scheduled to be delivered in the coming months. As soon as it is received by the company, the airline may drop down the price of tickets even further. This will increase the number of fliers opting for SpiceJet online booking in the coming future.
The carrier has started cutting down the capacity, and has successfully reduced it by 10 per cent. As per reports, it aims at shrinking it by 14 per cent by December. However, it is expected that with the receipt of new machines, it may start increasing the capacity.
Stiff competition in the Indian aviation industry has lead to fare wars between low-cost as well as full-fledged carriers. This market has also witnessed a number of twists and turns in the previous quarter. As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reports, SpiceJet gained substantial market and pushed back the flag airline of the country – Air India – in the ranking orders. Other low-cost carriers (LCCs) also managed to allure fliers by offering cheapest airfare, which in turn increased their flight occupancy. However, the Sun Group-owned company – SpiceJet – not only recorded growth in the number of fliers, but also topped the charts in terms of load factor.
As per reports, SpiceJet booking has increased because of the frequent flash sales announced by the company. Apart from this, the commencement of flights on new routes also contributed. The chief executive officer on the other hand shares a different view. Responding to these reports, he said that these discounts definitely helped in attracting new passengers, but the consistency in services provided by the carrier played an important role in retaining them. The airline operates more than 300 daily flights to over 45 national and 10 international destinations. Its fleet size of around 53 aircraft consists of the latest models launched by Boeing and Bombardier. These fuel efficient models allow these LCCs to cut down tariffs, which attracts more customers and is ultimately reflected as profits in the books of carriers. One of such offers includes SpiceJet tickets at just INR 699 to a number of domestic destinations.
This LCC recently announced Early New Year Sale followed by Early Bird offer in September. Under this deal, travellers can book flights to different cities of the country at INR 699 for travel dates falling between 16th January and 24th October, 2015. However, the bookings had to be made by 1st of October, 2014. Jet Airways and Air Asia also came up with similar offers, but to selective destinations of Southern India. The booking window for both of them was longer, till 5th of October. IndiGo, the leading airline of the country with over 32 per cent market share also announce similar offers to tackle this price-based competition.
With the advent of low-cost carriers (LCC) in the aviation market, the number of fliers has significantly increased. As per reports, a record growth of over 8 per cent has been seen in the month of August as compared to July. Apart from cheap tickets, improved services, easy accessibility and new marketing strategies are some of the important reasons behind this growth. In absolute terms, around 5.2 million people availed services of these airlines in the month of July, which climbed up to approximately 5.7 million in just 30 days. However, on year on year basis, the jump was of around 5.31 per cent, with a total of over 41 million fliers. Carriers like SpiceJet, GoAir and IndiGo also got into competitive spirit, which lead to a fare war and ultimately in increased fliers.
GoAir with around 10 per cent market share continued offering seats at a low cost. This Wadia Group-owned airline is growing at a fast pace and is planning to launch international flights in the coming year. As per industry experts, travellers can see a few international destinations in the GoAir booking option list. It has recently commenced operations on a number of new routes including Odisha. With over 100 everyday flights to over 20 destinations in the country, it is one of the rare airlines to report in its financial books. It is expected that as soon as it starts global operations, these profit figures will go up.
IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet also gained a significant number of passengers in the previous month. This raised the load factor of different airlines, but it remained in the 70-80 points range as the increment was slight in the last few months. However, more than 80 per cent seats of SpiceJet aircraft were reserved in the previous quarter. This LCC has left behind the leading carrier IndiGo in terms of flight occupancy, but as far as market shares are considered, it is still on the third spot. If the progress graph remains the same, we can expect interesting twists and turns in the performance reports of all these carriers in the following quarter.
The Indian low-cost carrier (LCC) GoAir is one of the leading airlines of the nation. This LCC is aggressively expanding its business in the country and may soon initiate its international business, as per latest reports. It has recently announced flights to Odisha from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Currently, it operates on more than 100 routes to over 20 Indian cities. A few days back, the airline initiated several feasibility reports for the initiation of operation in the state. The result seems to be positive as it has made an announcement regarding the commencement of operations in Odisha. It will provide travellers with an option to book cheap air ticket to the city. Biju Patnaik International Airport at Bhubaneswar will be its 22nd destination, where four flights are expected to land and depart in the coming months. Two of them are destined to New Delhi and one to Kolkata and Mumbai.
As per reports, the LCC is also keen to operate on Bhubaneswar and Bangalore route, but it may take some time as a number of studies have to be done before the commencement. Travellers can book tickets for the newly-launched routes after a week, but services will be initiated in January, next year. It is the third carrier to serve in the city after Air India and IndiGo. As per resources, GoAir booking counter will be opened at the terminal along with three check-in counters. The terminal currently handles 15 daily flights, which will be more than 20 in the coming months.
Apart from this, the airline will soon start global operations as it will receive the 20th aircraft as well as complete the fifth year by the end of this year. It is planning to submit an application regarding this as soon as the aircraft is received by the carrier.
The flag carrier of the country – Air India (AI) is one of the leading airlines in the domestic market. As per reports, its on-time performance has been quite good throughout the year. It has been observed that the flight status of the flights operated by this carrier were on time or just a few minutes delayed from the scheduled departure in the study period. It serves national and international destinations with primary bases at Indira Gandhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji international airports. It is a part of the Government of India Enterprise and is counted among the most efficient operators of the country.
The airline has been a part of the Star Alliance since years and with a fleet size of around 99 aircraft, it serves popular destinations of the world. It has placed an order for 31 aircraft models that are expected to be delivered in the coming years. Experienced travellers find this airline to be the most convenient and reliable as its on-time performance is around 90 per cent. Most of the flights to Mysore, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and other destinations depart and arrive on schedule, as per industry reports. Air India flight status can easily be tracked online, either using a computer or mobile.
It recently launched a direct flight from New Delhi to Sydney/Melbourne. The chairman of the AI revealed the fact that Boeing Dream-liner 787 model will be used to carry passengers from one stop to another as its low-pressured cabins are suitable for long-haul journeys. During the announcement, he also said that they want to focus on performance and further added that AI has earned the faith and trust of people by improving reliability and safety standards. This carrier suffers from perceptions, which are different from reality and said that they need to change the image.
In case of a long-haul journey, air travel is often the first choice of travellers. However, now people book cheapest airfare available, in case of they have to cover short journeys like one city to another. With the advent of low-cost carriers (LCCs), this trend is growing day by day. Apart from being time effective, the services provided by airlines and discount on ticket prices allure travellers to book tickets with them. Recently, AirAsia introduced tickets at just INR 1290 on a number of domestic routes. The offer included an all inclusive ticket with the LCC to different destinations below INR 1300 for a travel period between 5th September and 11th December.
This Malaysia-based carrier has recently initiated its operations in India and is the first foreign airline to set up its business in the country. It currently caters to most of the South Indian cities, and launched a Bangalore-Jaipur-Chandigarh flight just a few weeks back. It may soon start operating flights to Amritsar, Lucknow and other North Indian cities in the coming months. This three-way venture between Telestra Tradeplace, AirAsia Berhad and Tata Group is emerging as one of the toughest competitors to LCCs already operating in the country in terms of pricing that leads to fare war.
A few days back SpiceJet gave out tickets at a base or INR 499, followed by all-inclusive tickets at just 1999. The LCC gave tickets for just 1887 to many destinations for almost a week as promotional offer. These flash sales have increased the number travellers booking a flight along with increasing the load factor. These offers mutually benefits passengers as well as airlines; hence, is a win-win situation for both and as a result, it has been quite successful since last years.
SpiceJet is the largest airline of the country on the basis of load factor and second largest when market share is considered. It is one of those carriers, which offer seats at lowest airfare. With more than 300 daily flights catering to around 49 destinations, this low-cost carrier (LCC) is grabbing market share at a fast rate. It has a fleet size of around 53 aircraft that includes Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft and Boeing 737s. The carrier has placed an order for 57 more aircraft to be delivered in a couple of years. As soon as these new models will be delivered, the company may start operations on new routes including international ones. Apart from this, the carrier is planning to lower ticket prices for passengers who travel without check-in baggage.
However, it has not been approved by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Its rival AirAisia is also looking forward to introduce this offer as soon as DGCA clears the proposal. Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SpiceJet said that this move will encourage travellers to come up with lighter bags, which in turn will reduce the fuel burn. It may increase booking in the coming months, as SpiceJet flight fares will be reduced after approval, attracting more business travellers. As per reports, AirAsia asked for the permission regarding this offer as soon as it initiated operations in India.
The unbundling of services reduces the cost of a ticket and gives passengers an option to pay for the services they are willing to avail. This step will benefit both travellers and LCCs; hence, the civil aviation authorities are considering this proposal. Global airlines such as British Airways already practice this method of pricing and it is quite successful over there. As per industry reports, more than 40 per cent people travel with no baggage and new pricing strategy would a boon for them.
The budget carrier – SpiceJet – recently rolled out festive offers for its customers. Now, travellers can enjoy cheap flights to Mangalore and other domestic destinations by booking tickets with this airline. It is the largest airline of the country on the basis of load factor and is the second largest when market share is considered. It carries around 20 per cent of fliers to their destinations, which is lower than IndiGo only. With a fleet size of more than 55 aircraft, including the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 and Boeing 737s, it operates over 340 flights on a daily basis. Around 49 national and international destinations are served by this low-cost carrier (LCC) all across the globe.
Now, travellers can get seats at even cheaper prices to different cities of India by availing the festive offers rolled out by the carrier. Industry experts credited the deals offered by the carrier for gaining huge market share and passengers in the previous quarter. Following the trend, officials are expecting an increase in SpiceJet booking in this quarter also. These discounts over low-priced tickets are attracting those people, who used traditional modes of transportation for decades; in turn, increasing the market share.
Travellers can make seat reservations at low cost till 10th of September. The deal has been divided into two parts; in the first one, people who have planned their trip between 16th January and 24th October 2015 can reserve seats at just INR 599 (exclusive of taxes). On the other hand, in the second offer, they can book tickets at just INR 1999 (all inclusive) for the travel dates between 7th October 2014 and 15 January 2015. As per several reports, it will be followed other carriers also, leading to fare war in the following weeks.
GoAir recently announced cheap air ticket for its flights operated from Port Blair. A concession of 30 per cent will be provided on base fare on all the routes connecting Port Blair. It is not a limited period offer, so residents of Andaman and Nicobar can avail this offer for the whole year. Private airline, GoAir on August 28 announced 30 per cent concession on the base fare of the flights to Port Blair and flights from Port Blair throughout the year for residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This step may increase the air traffic on this route, which in turn will help the terminal to improve itself. The vice president of the company said that they are happy to contribute towards the development of the economy, employment opportunities and quality of life of this region in the coming future.
It is one of the leading airlines of the country operated by the Wadia Group. This low-cost carrier (LCC) operates around 800 weekly flights on domestic routes catering to different destinations of around 22 cities. It recently announced new services from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar and is planning to serve international destinations in the coming months. The LCC is currently operating its flights on almost all the metro and non-metro routes, and is equipped with all the latest technologies.
This airline is best suited for travellers, who are looking for air tickets with all Economy Class seating as it provides low price tickets. However, people who want some extra legroom can opt for GoBusiness service, which offers seats in first three rows, which are comparatively more spacious. All the latest technologies such as Wi-Fi can be used during the flight, and booking or checking GoAir flight status is a quick and easy process. It was the first LCC in the country to offer the first frequent-flyer programme known as GoClub.
India is one of the fastest growing markets in all aspects, including the aviation industry. As per reports, Asian markets will witness a large number of fliers to the biggest players of the industry in the coming years. It is also suggested that around 930 million new passengers may opt for this fastest mode of transportation by the end of 2017. As a result, airlines are planning to grab the maximum number of passengers by offering high-end services at a reasonable cost. As per surveys done by industry analysts, Indian carriers provide cheapest air ticket for flights to Leh, Shimla and other tourist destinations. The onset of new players, especially low-cost carriers (LCCs) is changing the price mechanism, making it cheaper day-by-day. SpiceJet – the second largest carrier of the nation – recently announced the Early Bird Scheme, which offers tickets at a base fare of INR 499.
Discounts and more
A few days back, the carrier announced INR 1899 for a number of domestic routes, under a special scheme, followed by the national airline – Air India – which announced tickets at just INR 100 plus fuel surcharges and different taxes. This offer was available on tickets booked between September 1st and 3rd for the journey planned between 16th of January and 24th of October, 2015. It was applicable on direct, via and connecting domestic flights. As per chief commercial officer of the LCC, with the introduction of this sale scheme, they were targeting more number of fliers as such schemes encourage people to make plans in advance. The airline serves around 49 destinations, out of which 41 are Indian and 8 are international, with more than 300 flights every day. It is expected that SpiceJet flight booking may see an upsurge as a result of this new flat discount.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently revealed the second quarter result and IndiGo has managed to retain the first position with more than 31 per cent market share. The fleet size of around 79 aircraft includes technically advanced models, such as Airbus A320. It caters more than 35 destinations with over 510 flights every day. This low-cost carrier (LCC) is first choice of people while flight ticket booking because of top-notch services provided by it. As per studies, it is one of the most reliable carriers of the nation.
In terms of punctuality and reliability, it is considered the best among all the domestic carriers. IndiGo booking has seen an upsurge in recent years as it introduced lowest possible cost along with maintaining the quality of its services. The tremendous increase in the number of fliers with this LCC is not just because of the high-quality services, but because of its ability to schedule flights on time also. It has been named as one of the most reliable service providers in the Indian aviation industry as per research done by experts. The criterion involved the percentage of flights that were delayed, diverted, cancelled and on time.
Although, SpiceJet has surpassed this LCC in terms of seat occupancy and the number customers gained in the month of July. However, IndiGo still leads in qualitative aspects such as customer satisfaction. Reviews on social networking sites and travel portals are all positive with plenty of praises regarding the food quality and other amenities. The national airline – Air India – falls between SpiceJet and IndiGo, which means it is giving satisfactory services to passengers. However, there are several areas in which the flag carrier can improve the rating. There may be a situation where market equations may drastically change on arrival of new aircraft ordered by different LCCs.
The leading airline of the country – IndiGo is planning to launch a direct Delhi to Vizag flight. A third daily flight on the Hyderabad-Vizag route is also on the list to be started from 10th of October. This low-cost carrier (LCC) already operates more than 500 daily flights with a fleet size of almost 79 aircraft. It leased around 12 models from Tigerair to be delivered by March. Most of them are domestic flights operated on metro and non-metro routes. Started by two enthusiasts, it has grown into the largest carrier of the nation carrying more than 31 per cent passengers in India to their destination. Recently, the company has introduced fundamental changes in the shareholding structure in order to raise some more funds.
After approval from Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the shares of one of the partners Rakesh Gangwal – a Non-Resident India (NRI) – has been converted into NRI holdings from foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Now, the airline can raise funds from a foreign enterprise up to 49 per cent. The inflow of resources can be used to make payments of some of the Airbus models to be delivered in 2016 and 2017. This InterGlobe Technologies-owned LCC is trying to deploy its newly received Airbus model by adding new routes to its options. Now, passengers can book a direct IndiGo flight from Delhi to Vizag. The carrier announced this launch after a meeting with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ministers. Air India, AirAsia, SpiceJet and GoAir officials were also present in the meeting to discuss other aspects of the industry. They discussed about fuel charges and came to a conclusion that there is scope of reducing sales tax on aviation turbine fuel by around a per cent. IndiGo president informed that booking for this new flight is open for prospective travellers.
The Sun Group owned airline – SpiceJet – is in the process of establishing new performance benchmarks. This leading low-cost carrier (LCC) has a fleet size of around 79 aircraft and operates more than 350 flights every day, catering over 55 international and national destinations. Second quarter reports published by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) showed a positive change in the market share of this airline. It replaced Air India – the national airline – from the third rank. Capacity addition, introduction of new routes and cheapest airfare helped the carrier in gaining significant market share in the previous month. Now it carries more than 20 per cent of total fliers, which make it the second largest airline of the country followed by IndiGo. As far as seat occupancy is concerned, it tops the charts and leaves behind all the other carriers, according to a data revealed by DGCA.
As per industry reports, cheap SpiceJet flight fares and flash sales allured a large number of leisure as well as business travellers who had never travelled with the carrier before. Top-notch amenities and simplified booking process helped it in retaining the existing fliers. Officials said that these offers were rolled out with proper planning, and it did not take hit on the revenue. The LCC flew its aircraft with almost 79 per cent occupied seats, whereas IndiGo saw a downfall and optimised only 67 per cent of the capacity. Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir, Air Costa and AirAsia recorded approximately 69, 64, 69, 65 and 69 per cent occupancy, respectively, in the month of July. The tourism industry is thriving at a quick pace and around 5.21 million passengers enjoyed air travel in the previous year. It has broken the myth that carriers cannot fly aircraft with full capacity in the lean season.
GoAir is one of the leading airlines of India, based in Mumbai and operated by the Wadia Group. With more than 100 daily flights and around 19 aircraft, it serves over 20 destinations all across the country. The carrier placed an order for over 70 Airbus A320 neo models, which are expected to be delivered in 2015. As per recent reports, this budget airline may soon add international destinations in its service list as it is planning to seek permission of respective authorities regarding overseas flying. The performance graph of GoAir in the previous quarter shows an upward movement in all respects, including the number of flights, routes and revenue.
This low-cost carrier (LCC) is not listed and hence, has to present its annual books in the public in order to give a true picture of the financial status to prospective investors. The company has revealed that so far it made a profit of INR 50 crores and the aim to gain more than 100 crores by the end of this fiscal year. In the last fiscal year, the revenue of this company was close to making a century, and actually crossed INR 100 in the 2013. Giorgio De Roni, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), revealed the fact that cheap GoAir flight tickets and the cargo business contributed significantly in this huge figure.
The CEO said that their aim is to increase revenue over the years as no dramatic change in fuel price has been observed. It is expected that the airline may cross the 100-crore benchmark in this fiscal year. Other airlines are expanding in terms of flights and fleet size, but he said that they want to remain small but profitable. Performance of the carrier is worth praising in the backdrop of losses that Indian aviation industry is facing.
