Paramount Airways set to increase routes

Chennai: At a point in time when carriers are cutting routes to reduce losses due to high fuel prices, the Madurai-based Paramount Airways, an all-business class airline is planning to add newer routes. It will enhance its operations from 62 flights a day to 66 flights in the following weeks.
The newer routes are Bangalore-Vishakapatnam (non-stop) and Chennai-Vishakapatnam (non-stop).
Besides Chennai-Tiruchirapalli daily and doubling frequencies of Chennai-Tiruvananthapuram.
M Thiagarajan, managing director of Paramount Air told the Times of India that his airline was not facing the heat of higher aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as much as other operators are feeling.
"True, we are all in the same boat, but my operations are better insulated than others." he said.
"I am able to increase fares and yet maintain market shares and maintain high loads, which most operators are unable to," the managing director added.
For instance, an average short haul flight ticket of Paramount costs Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 which is substantially higher than other operators.
"Our operations are different. We are not looking at train passengers which most airlines are looking at, and we are not into mass transportation, and since we are looking at the top end of the market, the price elasticity of our customers is better," he said.
"A Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 increase in fares makes no difference for my customers," Thiagrajan added.
30/06/08 Rajesh Chandramouli/Times of India

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Categories: Paramount Airways Jun 2008