New Delhi, Times have not been good already and troubles seem to further increase every minute for full service carriers Air India and Jet Airways. Both seem to have cut down their flight schedule for the winter season pertaining to costs. Air India would fly 144 less flights this year as compared to 2,313 last year and Jet Airways would fly 411 less flights as compared to its number in 2011. This will result in a low percentage (only19%) of overall flights this year. While Air India and Jet airways are blaming it on the exorbitant jet fuel prices they can’t afford, DGCA said the low percentage is due to a less demand of slot by these carriers. To further spoil matters, Kingfisher also announced that their ongoing lockout which was expected to be lifted this October will be delayed.
Trouble times for full service carriers prove to be profitable times for low cost airlines as they always have and this time too, will benefit largely in this winter festive season. The most crucial and profitable morning and evening slots will earn budget airlines like Indigo, SpiceJet and Go Air a good amount. Indigo will fly 2,447 as compared to 1,879 last year, SpiceJet 2,233, compared to 2,051 and Go Air 675, compared to 588 in 2011. Thus there will be a sharp increase in the number of flights for each of these carriers and Indigo will steal the show by being the market leader once again. But passengers might have to shell out extra bucks this season as the rise in demand will make budget airlines hike their fares.
The new winter schedule was announced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Wednesday. It will come into effect from the 28th of October and will continue till the 26th March 2013.
