Revolution in the air in India

snowcrab · Jan 15th, 2005, 06:55

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GA15Df08.html

Revolution in the air in India
By Indrajit Basu

Ask any traveler who has tried to book a flight to or from India during the holiday season between October and February and he will tell you it's almost impossible to get a seat. Domestic flights too are overbooked during this time, when the cooler climate, thrown in with plenty of sun, attracts hoards of tourists and businessmen to India just as an equally large number of wanderlust Indians travel out.

But such problems may soon be history, as a mix of policy changes and bilateral pacts with a few countries promise to bring about a revolution in India's civil aviation history. The policy push came in four stages starting from September, when the government granted airlines from nine countries rights to operate a daily service to any two metro cities in India, on a reciprocal basis. The countries are: the UK, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, Kenya, Sweden, Finland, Kyrgyzstan and the Slovak Republic.

see link

lots more references in Google news.
Can we hope prices might come down?

steven_ber · Jan 16th, 2005, 18:33

This is great news for tourists, both domestic and foreign.

This should bring about healthy competition between competing airlines (and also the railways) and should eventually bring prices down.

Jan 16th, 2005, 18:50

now that you mentioned competition between railways and airways, let me add (in the unlikely event that some IM-ers dont know), that its happened b4 and that the airlines started the "apex" scheme to attract the AC II tier travellers, and thats probably why the railways responded with introducing the AC III tier. all very good for us travellers !!

it sure makes travelling inside india cheaper. hope competition amongst airlines to woo customers, soon bring international air prices further down

.

personally i hope that domestic air prices come down some more. and if low cost carriers can maintain a good safety record, then its good news for all and sundry, cos even foreigner tourists will be allowed to avail those schemes.

nomadelmundo · Jan 17th, 2005, 12:31

we were in india from dec 30th until jan 15th 2005... took indian airlines from delhi to jaipur; jet airways from jodhpur to mumbai and air deccan from mumbai to delhi... of course i booked all those tickets 2 weeks in advance

but other travellers whom i met, were able to get flights at last moment from jodhpur to mumbai, even 30% cheaper than what i paid for... (apparently if you are < 30, you get 30% discount! never said that on the website!) and none of our flights were full, not even the discounted air deccan flight... although i must say i didn't like flying air deccan; the passengers on air deccan were something else... on a short 1hr30 min flight, everyone had to use the restroom and bought food on the plane (air deccan gives no snacks or meals but do give free chai)... we were angry that we didn't even get offered if we wanted to have some free chai, and after pressing the "help" button like 20 times, we got a flight attendent ... but she never came back with our chai... it was not their fault, but the overdemanding cabin i think... on a site note, i got my wooden toy snake confiscated when i was leaving delhi to heathrow; and i ask why, they said according to india "policy" my toy can be used to scare someone! boo!
will

Jan 17th, 2005, 13:14

well air deccan wont last long if they continue wth such preferrental antics. i've never known it to be particularly good either.

the 30% discount is something i could not make much of. must be some kind od promotional scheme to attract "the not yet so well earning" youngsters. they come up with many price break offers, generally with different reasons and target markets. and if by "other passengers" you meant indians, then thats because, just like the "entry fee" of tourists spots, air tickets are priced differently for indians and foreigners.

Jan 15th, 2005, 06:55	#1
snowcrab Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Can Posts: 1,053	Revolution in the air in India http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GA15Df08.html Revolution in the air in India By Indrajit Basu Ask any traveler who has tried to book a flight to or from India during the holiday season between October and February and he will tell you it's almost impossible to get a seat. Domestic flights too are overbooked during this time, when the cooler climate, thrown in with plenty of sun, attracts hoards of tourists and businessmen to India just as an equally large number of wanderlust Indians travel out. But such problems may soon be history, as a mix of policy changes and bilateral pacts with a few countries promise to bring about a revolution in India's civil aviation history. The policy push came in four stages starting from September, when the government granted airlines from nine countries rights to operate a daily service to any two metro cities in India, on a reciprocal basis. The countries are: the UK, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, Kenya, Sweden, Finland, Kyrgyzstan and the Slovak Republic. see link lots more references in Google news. Can we hope prices might come down?

Jan 16th, 2005, 18:33	#2
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,551	This is great news for tourists, both domestic and foreign. This should bring about healthy competition between competing airlines (and also the railways) and should eventually bring prices down. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Jan 17th, 2005, 12:31	#4
nomadelmundo a.k.a Sanyasin - the Wandering Aesthetic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 149	not true we were in india from dec 30th until jan 15th 2005... took indian airlines from delhi to jaipur; jet airways from jodhpur to mumbai and air deccan from mumbai to delhi... of course i booked all those tickets 2 weeks in advance but other travellers whom i met, were able to get flights at last moment from jodhpur to mumbai, even 30% cheaper than what i paid for... (apparently if you are < 30, you get 30% discount! never said that on the website!) and none of our flights were full, not even the discounted air deccan flight... although i must say i didn't like flying air deccan; the passengers on air deccan were something else... on a short 1hr30 min flight, everyone had to use the restroom and bought food on the plane (air deccan gives no snacks or meals but do give free chai)... we were angry that we didn't even get offered if we wanted to have some free chai, and after pressing the "help" button like 20 times, we got a flight attendent ... but she never came back with our chai... it was not their fault, but the overdemanding cabin i think... on a site note, i got my wooden toy snake confiscated when i was leaving delhi to heathrow; and i ask why, they said according to india "policy" my toy can be used to scare someone! boo! will __________________ Visit my forum for backpackers, trekkers & hikers where you can share stories, discuss trails, and upload unlimited amount of travel photos for FREE... @ PlanetNomads.com

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Jan 16th, 2005, 18:50	#3
Bengal Tiger Posts: n/a	now that you mentioned competition between railways and airways, let me add (in the unlikely event that some IM-ers dont know), that its happened b4 and that the airlines started the "apex" scheme to attract the AC II tier travellers, and thats probably why the railways responded with introducing the AC III tier. all very good for us travellers !! it sure makes travelling inside india cheaper. hope competition amongst airlines to woo customers, soon bring international air prices further down . personally i hope that domestic air prices come down some more. and if low cost carriers can maintain a good safety record, then its good news for all and sundry, cos even foreigner tourists will be allowed to avail those schemes.

Jan 17th, 2005, 13:14	#5
Bengal Tiger Posts: n/a	well air deccan wont last long if they continue wth such preferrental antics. i've never known it to be particularly good either. the 30% discount is something i could not make much of. must be some kind od promotional scheme to attract "the not yet so well earning" youngsters. they come up with many price break offers, generally with different reasons and target markets. and if by "other passengers" you meant indians, then thats because, just like the "entry fee" of tourists spots, air tickets are priced differently for indians and foreigners.

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