No recovery for Air travel

New Delhi: Domestic airlines' hopes to get back into shape on cheaper fuel and higher flier numbers this tourist season could well be dashed as air travel is expected to further slow down following terror attack on Mumbai.
The airlines were hoping to reverse the sharp downfall in number of fliers by the promise of lower fares in December. The enhanced fear factor now has led to airlines like Jet advising passengers to reach airports early and carry valid identity proofs to meet tighter security requirements.
"It's another continuing pressure on airline industry as the attack will have a significant immediate impact on travel. This year has seen a fall in number of fliers over 2007. In November, traffic was down by 8% over same period last year and now December fall could be in double digits. This slowdown will further aggravate the situation," said Kapil Kaul, Asia head of Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
Kingfisher chief Vijay Mallya has already asked his airline to take all steps to ensure safety of passengers. "The extent and manner of these attacks is unprecedented in our country. This leads me to conclude that terrorists will stop at nothing," he said.
The attack is the third direct assault on airline and travel industry. Since March, airlines were reeling under impact of steep oil prices. Then economic slowdown pushed the fare higher and passenger traffic started slowing down. The current panic is expected to worsen the scenario.
Air travellers approaching Mumbai on Thursday morning hours after the attack started feeling the impact. A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Mumbai was diverted to Delhi and its passengers are in the capital. Three outgoing international flights (one each of Lufthansa, Air France and Northwest) were cancelled in early hours of Thursday. Some passengers and crew members were not able to reach the airport due to a blast in a car on western express highway. Domestic airlines like Kingfisher combined some flights to and from Mumbai.
28/11/08 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2008