Record Rs 48.7 lakh flyers in Nov sent fares soaring

New Delhi: November recorded the highest number of air travellers flying within the country in a month. The already growing traffic picked up sharply after Diwali, and airlines went for the kill.
The festive season travel this year beat the previous high of 47.8 lakh — recorded in the summer holiday month of May 2010 (despite the Mangalore crash that month). With people taking to the skies like never before, flights filled up like Jan Shatabdis — albeit at prices many times over even first-class Rajdhani fares. On average, planes flew with 78% to 91% of all seats sold out; fares were 20-25% higher than in November last year.
Considering the numbers a sign of consumers beating back the recent slowdown blues, the government is upbeat. "India will record even higher growth numbers in coming times. Aviation has grown by 400% in the last six-and-a-half years and will grow four times in the next decade. Airlines offering reasonable fares will witness the maximum growth," said aviation minister Praful Patel.
21/12/10 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2010