Low-cost flying pushes up food & beverage sales

Bangalore: With food not being part of the ticket price in low-cost flights, air travellers are busy stocking up on food at airport restaurants and cafes, before boarding their flight.
Says a spokesperson for BIAL, the promoters of the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), “We have seen a 28% increase in F&B sales over last year at restaurants located after the security-check area.”
As per CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation) estimates, the ratio of low-cost flights to full service flights at present is 60:40, which last year at the same time was around 45:55.
Kingfisher Red, the budget class of Kingfisher Airlines, serves passengers a basic meal, but in all other low-cost carriers, passengers have to pay for what they eat or drink.
“Even though passengers can buy food on board a low-cost airline, the choices are very limited,” says Sanjay Coutinho, COO, Barista Coffee Company, a subsidiary of Lavazza.
01/03/10 Anshul Dhamija/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Mar 2010, Low Cost General Mar 2010