Check Super Sale on SpiceJet and book Flights Tickets from Kolkata to Visakhapatnam

Kolkata, the state capital of West Bengal, is among the largest cities in India and an important metropolitan area. It also has a busy seaport and hence, witnesses heavy inflow and outflow of goods from around the world. Till 1911, it served as the capital of British India and is home to loads of colonial era buildings. Owing to its prominence as a centre of culture, commerce, maritime trade and tourism, it has become a highly toured destination in the nation. In the recent past, it has been connected to the rest of the country by an expansive network of roads, trains and flights, giving people the ease of travelling. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport serves as an important aviation gateway to East India and as per reports, catering to over 10 million passengers and 90000 aircraft movements, annually. People from across the nation can make IndiGo, GoAir or Spicejet online booking to travel easily and quite cheaply to this place. As these low-cost carriers (LCCs) took the national aviation industry by storm, it was decided to renovate and modernize the airfield. At present avail special 3 days offer price for  Spicejet online booking which is available till January 30 2015.

ATC Integration

The above-mentioned airport will move a step further in the process of modernisation when its Air Traffic Control (ATC) is integrated with those of other aviation hubs in the country. Reports revealed that a few months ago that as the on-site ATC was integrated with those of other airports, airlines will be able to save roughly INR 90000 per flight that come here. This will happen as the integrated ATCs will provide airlines with direct flight paths that will reduce the distance travelled and the time taken. It will further amount to lesser fuel consumption, resulting in lower fuel costs.

The radar system of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport will be synchronised with the airfield in Chennai by the end of 2014. Thanks to this Kolkata Chennai, Kolkata Hyderabad and Kolkata Visakhapatnam flights will take 15-20 minutes less than present. By May 2015, Delhi will also be integrated with the capital of West Bengal. Then, the flights from there to Jaipur will save around 800-900 kg of air turbine fuel, amounting to roughly INR 900000 annually.

New Lowest Air Fare Options to be Added Soon

Many reports including International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) analysis suggest that Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern markets are emerging as the most lucrative ones. This is the reason that giant global operators are willing to set up their operations in these countries. Recently, the Malaysia-based low-cost carrier (LCC) – AirAsia – started operating in India. The Tata and Singapore Airlines (SIA) venture – Vistara – following the footsteps will soon commence its flights in the country. However, the Tata-SIA venture will add options in the full-service flights to Mysore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and other destinations, unlike AirAsia, which is sticking to low cost services. Similarly, Lufthansa – one of the leading airlines of the world – is planning to launch a LCC, named as Wings, for long-haul journeys. Currently, this carrier operates hundreds of flights everyday with a fleet size of over 270 aircraft.

It is considering India as a crucial market because of the huge demands and cooperative policies laid down by the government of the country. The airline may execute the plan by 2016 that includes purchase of three A330 aircraft models from Airbus. People, who are willing to explore the land of diversity, can book international flights to Hyderabad or Kolkata at lowest air fare. The European base can be in Switzerland, Germany or Austria, and from there German Wings may carry passengers to other places. The director of the company said that they are not planning to connect Wings to major airports like Munich or Frankfurt. The airline planned to start operations in India this winter, but postponed it to the next winter due to infrastructure constraint and lack of availability of desired slot at the airport. The authorities are planning to add a new stand for A380s by summers, 2016.

This project has been announced by Lufthansa a few days back and includes A330s in picture with a three class configuration. It may have more than 300 seats; eight, 48 and 161 seats from First, Business and Economy Classes, respectively. To offer seats at economic fares, the Dutch-based airline is planning to have a low cost base distributed among a large number of passengers. It currently operates an A380 on Delhi-Frankfurt route and may soon deploy another model on the Mumbai route.

Increase in Flights to Kanpur

As per International Air Transport Associations (IATA) reports, India is one of the most lucrative markets of the world. A few decades back, the flag airline of the country – Air India – was the largest service provider in the sub-Saharan region. The country may once again become the base of the largest airline in the same region if the current trend continues. Two new airlines started their operation in the year 2014; AirAsia and Vistara. The prior one is an Indian arm of the Malaysia-based company, while the latter is a Tata Group-owned airline, marking the return of this business conglomerate in the aviation business. AirAsia is a low-cost carrier (LCC) and primarily serves cities in South India, while Vistara is a full-service operator aiming the market of Tier II and III cities along with metros. It will launch the first flight on 9th of January on Delhi and Mumbai route, followed by Ahmedabad. It is expected that flights to Kanpur, Varanasi and Lucknow may soon be announced by the carrier.

The Tata Group owns 51 percent stakes in the company and rest belongs to the Singapore Airlines (SIA) – one of the leading carriers of Singapore. As per reports, both companies invested a total of around $100 million to start the carrier. It has recently received the Air Operator Permit (AOP), after conducting the test in the presence of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) authorities. All other legal formalities have also been completed, and it is all set to expand its business. The airline plans to operate 87 weekly flights from the primary hubs at Delhi and Mumbai Airports. Destinations like Hyderabad, Jammu, Patna, Bangalore, Goa and Bangalore are included in the current list. As per industry experts, Leh, Pantnagar, and Trivandrum-Mangalore flights will soon make their way to this list.

Initially, it will operate from terminal 4, which is used by global operators. Later, slots of Terminal 3, which is under construction, will be assigned to the carrier. It is dedicated for domestic carriers, and other airlines like Jet Airways, IndiGo, AirAsia and Air India will also operate from the same platform by the end of July 2015.

Vistara Flight Schedule and New Services

Vistara is the newest carrier that started operation in the Indian aviation market. It is owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines (SIA), owning 51 and 49 per cent shares, respectively. The carrier promised a new experience to travellers, and its flights fulfilled all of them. It offers many personalized services for the convenience of fliers. The maiden flight showcased a number of innovative features, including automatic check-in and digital boarding passes. Currently, the Vistara flight schedule includes operations for three destinations only, namely Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, but will soon add other cities of the country in its booking list.

As per reports, the airline will add options in the booking list by the end of the month of February as skies will be clearer at that time. It is expected that the company may capitalise the demand of DomesticFlight Bookings with Vistara Flight for air travel in Tier II and III cities, including Patna, Goa, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Flawless services of Vistara can be enjoyed by people travelling between these cities. The objective of the airline is to connect small cities of the country with metropolitan ones. With the increasing number of business as well as leisure travellers, and reduction in the cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), the carrier may add good numbers in its revenue column.

This carrier is credited with the introduction of the Premium Economy Class in the Indian aviation market. In this seating arrangement, fliers are offered more legroom as compared to Economy Class. The seat pitch is 33 inches in this class, whereas Business Class seats are installed at a distance of 40 inches. This ensures top-notch services and on-board facilities at the lowest airfare possible. In addition to this, it also followed the sequential boarding procedure. As per it, fliers who are offered seats in the last few rows are allowed to board first as this reduces the chaos. This airline is also planning to install more options for the entertainment of travellers. It has received the delivery of three Airbus models and is expecting the arrival of around 10 aircraft by the end of this year.

Cheap Flight Tickets Booking with GoAir

The Wadia Group-owned airline – GoAir – is one of the few carriers of the country showing positive consistency in its financial books. This low-cost carrier (LCC) is one of the most efficient service providers, known for offering economical seat reservation options. Recently, it has announced discount on fares of its extensive network route, including flights to Indore, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. It currently operates more than 140 flights everyday from its primary hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Mumbai. The carrier recently started operations in Odisha, and also received the delivery of 20th aircraft. Now, it has joined the league of carriers that stand at par with the 5/20 article of aviation laws.

This law states that airlines can operate on international routes only if they are carrying operations since five years in the country, and own at least or more than 20 aircraft. Just after completion of both the criterion, GoAir started planning its global operations. As per reports, the carrier may initially be launching flights for short and medium-haul journeys in the first quarter of the coming year. For time being, discounts are applicable on domestic flights only. This flash sale includes around 17 lakh tickets for various destinations lying all across the country. The lowest ticket price is INR 1469 for the journeys falling in the time period between January and March. Discounted prices for many destinations are equivalent to second or third AC bookings in trains. Over a dozen such sales were launched by carriers in the entire year as a result of the fare war. Commenting on this, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the carrier said that these price cut will not lead to repetition of any such situation as these fares are not extremely low. In addition, he said that the company has introduced this offer to make travel affordable in these months. Air traffic is usually low in these lean months as people just return after celebrating Christmas and New Year. Travellers can make flight tickets booking between 21st and 25 December to avail these economical fares.

New Acquisitions May Boost Air India Mumbai Visakhapatnam flights

Chandigarh is a rapidly-developing urban centre, and many big companies are starting their business in the city. As a result, air travel here is also increasing, and flights to Chandigarh are being offered by more and more airlines in the country. Air India, the national carrier, has regular air services to the destination from Mumbai and Delhi – the two most important Indian cities. It began operations as a subsidiary of Tata Sons, and its first flight was used to deliver mails. In 1948, a flight from Mumbai flew to London, thereby elevating the status of the airline from domestic to international.

In February 1960, it flew a Boeing 707 for the first time and became the first Asian airline to use a jet aircraft. With a fleet of over 100 aircraft, with more than 25 on order, it flies to more than 90 destinations worldwide. As it is a full-service carrier, it serves meals to passengers in all travel classes. Its in-flight entertainment facilities consist of TV channels, Hindi/Hollywood movies, popular Indian soap operas and a music library. First and Business Class passengers can relax at the Maharaja Lounges in four big national cities, London and New York.

Current Plans

In the year 2015, it is planning to upgrade its fleet as it is on a mission to dominate the Indian aviation industry once again. As announced in January 2015, the carrier will spend at least $1 billion to buy or lease new aircraft, and some existing orders may be modified to suit its needs. Officials associated with it told reporters that it is in talks with Boeing to purchase about 10 narrow-bodied aircraft instead of the original three wide-bodied ones. The reason for this is that the narrower planes are more fuel-efficient than their larger counterparts; thus helping the company save on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs. They also added that the airline is mulling to lease five Boeing 737-800s and five ATR 72s, and to modify the orders for 777-300 ERs to those of 737 MAXs. With all these new acquisitions, important domestic services such as Mumbai Visakhapatnam flights may be better served, as speculated by experts.

Cut in ATF Prices may make Jetlite Ticket Booking Cheaper

Sahara Airlines was founded in 1991, and it first flew with a couple of Boeing 737s. It was re-branded as Air Sahara in 2000, though Sahara Airlines remained as the registered name of the carrier. Four years later, its operation went international with the launching of the first flight to Colombo from Chennai. Jetlite was formed when Jet Airways bought Sahara Airlines in 2007 for over INR 14 billion. It initially operated as a separate carrier but in March 2012, was incorporated into the low-cost brand of the Naresh Goyal-owned Indian civil aviation major. Jet Airways, in December 2014, decided to merge it with its full-service wing, however, retaining the codes and destinations of the former. As a result, though the brand does not operate under its own name, but a Jetlite ticket booking can be easily made with its parent carrier. 

It has a fleet of over a 100 aircraft and with more than 10 being operated for JetKonnect. Complimentary meals are offered to all fliers, irrespective of the brand they are flying even on domestic routes. Its in-flight entertainment system, known as JetScreen, has won numerous awards and has for fliers, games, music, news, movies and seat-to-seat and seat-to-ground calling facilities. One of its hubs is at Netaji Subhash Chandra Airport in Kolkata, along with those in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and even Brussels in Belgium. As a result, flights to Kolkata with this carrier are available from around the country and some international cities such as Bangkok.   

Surging Stocks   

On 1st January, 2015, prices of air turbine fuel (ATF) in India were cut by almost 12.5 percent in the sixth consecutive slashing since August 2014. The cut, amounting to roughly INR 7250.52 per kilolitre, has now brought the price to about 52,422.92 per kilolitre. After this drop, ATF prices have been on an all-time low since February 2011. Its effects were clearly seen on the stock-rates of Jet Airways that increased by roughly INR 33.10 to around INR 417.30. ATF accounts for more than 40 per cent of the total expenditure, done by airlines, and the reduction in its cost may bring the prices of air tickets down.

Cheap Flights Offered by Indian Domestic Carriers

The first month of the year marks the onset of the lean season for air travel that goes till March in India. Airlines usually start offering deals and discounts to attract fliers and keep up the momentum of the market. In addition to this, Vistara also commenced its operations just a few days back that increased the competition in the market. As per reports, Vistara flight ticket is providing high value for money, and to offer a similar value, Air India also announced a seven-day sale. It is expected that Jet Airways may also make a similar announcement in the coming weeks. The demand for air travel is the lowest in the first sector as it falls between the festive season of November-December and the season of March-April.

Usually, carriers used to slash down the cost of reservation to attract new fliers, but with the arrival of Vistara, the focus has been shifted to retain the customer base. Operating under the company as a resultant of the joint venture between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Tata Group, this new carrier has created a whirl in the Indian aviation market. Travellers may have more options regarding cheap flights as the quantum of discounts can be higher in this season. The recently announced seven-day sale by Air India includes reservation at a discount of 15-50 per cent, from January 13-18. These are valid for flights scheduled between January 16 and April 30. It has been observed that heavy discounts on flights operating between Delhi-Mumbai will continue as Vistara is currently functioning on the same route.

The Jet Airways spokesperson said that this airline will also provide reservation at subsidised costs between January 13-18 for travel dates falling between January 16 and April 15. The cost of tickets for Mumbai-Delhi route is INR 1832, exclusive of taxes. This discount is driven by market competition for now, but it is expected that carriers may reduce the cost of reservation as an effect of the lower oil cost.

Air India Offers Flights to Gwalior and Other Cities to Increase Sharply

For a long time the name Air India has been synonymous with civil aviation in the country. Founded in 1932 as a subsidiary of Tata Sons Limited, the carrier has for long enjoyed a monopoly over the national air transport. It began operations by delivering mails from Karachi to Mumbai on-board a De Havilland Puss Moth, and since then has come a long way. The Indian Government purchased a major stake of the company in 1953, which led to it being made the flag carrier of the nation. Its fleet consists of over 100 aircraft, including large aircraft like Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Boeing 747s and Boeing 777s. These models have three travel classes on offer, namely First, Business and Economy, and meals are also served to all passengers. Fliers can book for instance flights to Gwalior with this airline from most of the large metropolises in the country.

Enhanced Services

To cash up on the losses of some carriers due to increased competition and in a bid to attract more passengers, Air India has announced enhancements in its services. As per a senior official, the airline will shift its narrow-bodied aircraft from the metros and base them in smaller cities of the country. These will be utilized to fly to regional cities, while the larger ones will be deployed on trunk routes. He added that five Airbus A320s will be rented from China Aircraft Leasing between 2015 and 2016. In addition to them, three ATRs will also be leased and subsequently operated by Alliance Air, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Indian national airline.

As the parent carrier brings about this shifting, flights between various Tier-II and Tier-III or the smaller cities of the country will see a substantial increase. For instance, Kochi and Hyderabad are relatively smaller urban areas and due to this subtle change, passengers may be able to book a Kochi Hyderabad flight more easily than before. Not only will this increase connectivity between these two destinations, but it will also generate a lot of profit for the flight operator. In this time of fierce competition, it is necessary that carriers find innovative ways to stay on top and continue to be profitable. At present flight fares have dropped and you and find special Air India flight Offers when booking for domestic flights.

Explore 3 Major Indian Destinations with Air India

Competitive Strategies for Vistara Domestic Flight

Vistara is the third full-service carrier of the country, operating under the joint venture between the corporates Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. This newest airline recently started operations in the Indian skies. Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai are among the first few cities to be served by this carrier. These are among the most popular routes of the country; hence it is facing direct competition from other full-fledged service providers as well as low-cost operators. The carrier is adding distinctive features to attract fliers, who already use services of SpiceJet, IndiGo and other airlines. Vistara domestic flight booking includes Premium Economy seating, which is an entirely new concept in the Indian aviation market.

In addition to this, the carrier is operating on a cost-effective model with a lean structure. Currently, there are around 400 people working with the company, including crew members as well as management. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company said that the key factor for this airline will be the low cost in this competitive environment. In addition to this, he also said that unlike its competitors, the company does not have to manage debt or pay huge amounts of interest. This gives Vistara an edge over others as the entire revenue can be used for growth and expansion. Apart from Delhi and Ahmedabad Mumbai flight, this airline is planning to add a number of other small cities to its network route.

This service provider owns three Airbus 320s, and delivery of 17 more are due in the coming years. Currently, there are four air hostesses and five cabin crew per flight for training purposes, but it will soon be reduced to one and four, respectively. As per reports, new routes will be added only after the 16th of February because of the fog. These new destinations include Patna, Goa, Bangalore, Chennai and many others. As per officials, the objective of the airline is to operate over 80 daily flights to connect various cities of the country. It may also start global operations if the aviation authorities change the 5/20 rule. This states that carriers have to operate for at least five years in the domestic market and own 20 models before commencing international operations.

Booking Online Air Ticket with Vistara

The Tata Group is one of the early investors in the aviations industry. This business conglomerate used to a part of the Air India before it was purchased by the government. However, decades after that, they are back in this business with their latest joint venture with Singapore Airlines (SIA) – Vistara. The carrier recently conducted successful test flights in the presence of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) authorities, and received the Air Operator Permit (AOP) just after a few days. This was the last requirement before commencement of operations. Now, travellers can book airline tickets with this carrier, which is all set to launch its first commercial flight on the 9th of January.

As per reports, this full service carrier competing directly with Air India and Jet Airways will be starting its operations on the busiest route of the country – Delhi to Mumbai. In addition to this, online air ticket is available for Ahmedabad also from the capital city. Experts are of the opinion that Ahmedabad has been included in one of the earliest destinations to attract travellers who are planning to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. It is the first airline of the country that is offering Premium services that falls between Economy and Premium Class. Currently, it has two Airbus models, but it will soon receive the delivery of the third one. Afterwards, 17 more aircraft will be delivered that include A320 Neos. The airline is taking these models on lease to keep a check on the operating cost without compromising with the quality of services and comfort provided to fliers.

These Airbus models are expected to have a capacity of 148 seats divided into Business, Premium Economy and Economy class and the number assigned to each of them is 16, 36 and 96, respectively. Apart from a whole new seating class, the carrier is also offering a frequent flier programme to ensure repeated bookings with fliers. However, the mechanism of point accreditation is slightly different from the popular practice, and travellers will be given points on the basis of value of the purchase made, instead of the miles they fly. The chief executive officer of the company said that the activation of services is just the beginning of the fulfillment of the brand promise – a seamless travel experience.