Carriers woo travellers with luxury perks

Mumbai: Get ready to be pampered when you fly abroad next time. Stung by the slowdown in the US, international carriers are going all out to woo travellers from countries such as India, which are still registering a double-digit growth in outbound traffic.
Your choice to fly an international carrier will now be influenced by how flat the beds are, how wide your business class seat is or whether a super luxury car drops you off at the airport. This is exactly what the international carriers are offering the premium Indian travellers.
International airlines pick up at least 60-65 per cent of the onward traffic from India. Many airlines feel this is the perfect time for improving the luxury quotient so that yields go up even if the load factor is down.
Mark D Martin, senior adviser, KPMG, said the Indian aviation sector is registering a double-digit growth despite the high air turbine fuel prices. This is not seen anywhere else.
International carriers are therefore seeing an opportunity in the country. The first class is increasing at the expense of the economy class. The thumb rule for every airline is that for every eight economy seats, at least one first class seat has to be sold.
Martin said foreign airlines are able to offer premium services as they can take advantage of the relatively lower air turbine fuel costs in their country of origin.
27/07/08 Manisha Singhal/Business Standard

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jul 2008