New Delhi: Indian airlines are set to witness over 42% utilisation of seats allowed for overseas destinations, government data shows, surpassing for the first time in eight years the capacity used by foreign carriers flying into the country.
According to data provided by the civil aviation ministry, the current winter season will see Indian carriers utilising 42.56% of the quota of seats allowed under bilateral traffic rights, or 377,724 seats per week, compared with about 20% utilisation in the year-ago season.
On the other hand, foreign airlines flying into India are expected to clock 39.78% this season, compared with over 40% utilisation a year ago.
Although domestic carriers were granted permission to fly to overseas destinations in 2004, they were, until now, unable to match the capacity utilisation of foreign airlines flying into India largely due to policy constraints.
According to officials, the improvement in capacity utilisation follows the civil aviation ministry's move to give in advance traffic rights up to three seasons to all airlines.
16/11/12 Anindya Upadhyay/Economic Times
