Airlines had fewer passengers in 2008 as ticket prices rose

Mumbai: More passengers kept away from domestic airlines in 2008 than the previous year as ticket prices increased because of rising jet fuel costs, nearly halting years of low-cost flying.
Domestic airlines flew 40.77 million passengers in 2008, 4.84% less than the 42.85 million the year before, the regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in its monthly report.
Passenger growth crashed by 17.17% in December to 3.32 million from 4.01 million a year ago.
Vijay Mallya-controlled Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, which merged the low-cost Deccan Aviation Ltd with itself last year, retained in the top slot for market share by passengers with 27.1% in December, but lower than the 29.8% a year earlier.
Jet Airways (India) Ltd, the country’s largest private airline by sales, and its low-cost subsidiary JetLite (India) Ltd, together were next with 24.4%, down from 29.5% in 2007.
State-owned carrier National Aviation Co. of India Ltd, which operates Air India, is in the third spot with 16.8% in December, against 14.9% last year.
Delhi-based low-fare airline IndiGo, run by InterGlobe Aviation Pvt. Ltd, gained substantial market share to become the largest low-fare carrier in the country. IndiGo’s market share went up to 15.4% from 9.9% in the year-ago December.
SpiceJet Ltd, another Delhi-based low-fare airline, saw its market share rise to 11.2% in December from 10.1% earlier. Paramount Airways’ market share went up to 2.4% from 1.2% while GoAir’s fell to 2.3% from 4.3% earlier.
According to a report published by aviation consulting firm Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) on passenger growth outlook, domestic traffic for the 12 months ending 31 March may decline by 10-12% year-on-year.
14/01/09 P.R. Sanjai/Livemint

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jan 2009