BUSINESS
Air traffic fell 66% in FY21 with big drop in large cities, but Patna shines
Strict lockdown last year in April and most of May derailed air travel, particularly international flights, which have taken a much bigger hit.
BUSINESS
Government's target of 100 new airports is fast turning into a pipe dream
It takes anywhere between a year and three to get an airport going. So, now is the chance to get these airports operational and improve the aviation infrastructure, for 2024 is when India holds the next general election.
BUSINESS
The No.2 slot in Indian aviation is up for grabs
IndiGo is the clear leader. What about the second slot?
BUSINESS
Vistara non-stop flights to US: The challenges and opportunities for the Tata-SIA airline
Vistara, the Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture, has filed for permissions in the US to fly from September this year. A look at how the flights operations could play out.
BUSINESS
How SpiceJet’s breakneck expansion is hurting now
In a cost-conscious market like India where market share follows capacity share and higher capacity share gives good pricing power—mostly to undercut competition—SpiceJet has had no choice but to go for expansion. But that is backfiring now.
BUSINESS
Trujet has survived in the world’s toughest aviation market, but what next?
The airline has been operating without many hitches for six years thanks to subsidy and other benefits of UDAN. It is betting on smaller jets to fend off competition from the likes of IndiGo.
BUSINESS
Airlines caught in double whammy as passenger count drops below 2 lakh mark
Is it the virus or is it the expensive floor price? It could well be a mix of both. With the govt making it clear that the cap on capacity for airlines will be increased only when the numbers cross 3.5 lakh per day - three times a month, it’s going to be tougher days ahead for carriers.
BUSINESS
Vande Bharat Mission and Air Bubbles: The twain do meet
While much has been achieved, a closer look at the numbers and destinations of flights listed under the Vande Bharat Mission shows that many of the destinations are in fact part of air bubbles. Such a mismatch makes one wonder if the Vande Bharat Mission passenger count is indeed is as high as the lakhs announced by the government
BUSINESS
Udan Upshot: 36 of 108 airports to have single airline operator
Alliance Air, a unit of Air India, leads the charge of keeping previously underserved routes on the aviation map. IndiGo, SpiceJet and Truejet too will enjoy monopoly in some airports.
BUSINESS
Summer schedule of airlines: Despite COVID restrictions, more airports to get busy
Sunday marked the beginning of the Northern Summer Schedule 2021 -- the longer of the two IATA schedules. In India, 108 airports will become active if all operations start as planned. Puducherry, Nanded and Bhatinda lose connectivity this season.
BUSINESS
GoAir said it will become an Ultra Low-Cost Carrier. What the heck is that?
Like all other carriers, GoAir is at best a low-fare carrier and not a low-cost carrier since every other trick in the book to keep costs low are absent in India.
BUSINESS
A new pecking order among airlines at India’s busiest airport
Mumbai, the busiest single-runway airport in the world, has run out of slots. An analysis of the latest data on the airlines that gained and lost most at the airport.
BUSINESS
Analysis | What would it take for airlines to carry 3.5 lakh passengers a day?
The aviation minister has said the government may allow 100% operations if daily airline passenger traffic crosses the 3.5 lakh mark a month. That seems a tall order given the tepid demand so far in March. Still, there is a chance that airlines could hit the target.
BUSINESS
IndiGo is all set to go the distance
As the world comes out of a lockdown and vaccination gathers pace, IndiGo is well poised to capitalise on the eventual resumption of air services. The airline will have two things in its arsenal: the A320neo family, which can be deployed on shorter international routes such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and a fleet of A321neos that can fly much longer distances.
BUSINESS
What Jet Airways really needs to soar again as NCLT gives go ahead for resolution by Kalrock-Jalan consortium
Jet Airways share price was locked in 5 percent upper circuit on June 22 after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the Kalrock-Jalan consortium's resolution plan for the company, with riders.
BUSINESS
Why Vistara's decision to induct mono-class aircraft a double-edged sword
While it is worth investing in multiple fleet types so that the right aircraft can be deployed on the right market, the critical thing here is the timing.
BUSINESS
A passage to India: Here’s how Indian MROs could end up servicing the world’s aircraft
The aircraft maintenance-repair-overhaul (MRO) industry is labour-intensive and requires skilled technicians. Like Information Technology, where India has become the back-office of the world, certain tweaks in taxation could see aircraft fly to India for MRO visits.
INDIA
With 14 operational airports soon, UP is set to become India’s highest flying state
The top 20 urban areas by population would have an airfield within two hours driving distance, an unparalleled feat achieved by the Yogi government
BUSINESS
Why are Tier II and III cities seeing such a surge in air traffic?
While the government has limited the capacity of flights, the cap does not apply on routes that are operated under the RCS–UDAN scheme. Tier II and III cities are also more reliant on SMEs and MSMEs for economic activity and unlike the city-based services sector, WFH is not so prevalent in these segments
BUSINESS
Aviation: The winners and losers among Indian airlines in 2020
Vistara had the best passenger numbers, while cash-heavy IndiGo navigated the crisis with caution. AirIndia Express and Go Air were the worst off
BUSINESS
What the fare cap and capacity limit extension mean for airlines, explained
The government has extended the cap on airline capacity until the end of March. A look at the airlines that will be affected and those that won’t mind.
BUSINESS
Why the muted air-passenger traffic growth in January wasn't all that bad
While the numbers for January are just 60 percent of what they were last January, this is the best performance for the month when it comes to traffic numbers in January over December, in a clear indication that the steady rise in traffic is continuing
BUSINESS
Silver lining in IndiGo earnings: Airline now seventh biggest worldwide by capacity
India’s largest airline has expanded on international routes over the last two years in a manner that no other carrier from the country has before.
BUSINESS
What lies ahead for Tata Group, Vistara and AirAsia India?
Will AirAsia India be merged with Vistara? Will such a decision depend on the outcome of the privatisation of Air India? There are many challenges that await the salt-to-software conglomerate’s aviation business. But the good thing is that it ended 2021 on a good note, increasing market share, and girding up for the battles ahead
