Jisha Surya
First Published : 02 May 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: They have become the kings of bad times. The crisis at Air India has turned out to be a treasure chest for private airlines operating from the city. Private carriers like IndiGo, Jet Airways, Jet Konnect and Kingfisher are cashing in on the trouble times of Air India.
The Air India pilots’ strike, which entered the sixth day on Monday, is making matters worse with the cancellation of all flights operating from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
All the domestic flights operating from Thiruvananthapuram, including AI 466 (Thiruvananthapuram-Kochi-Delhi), AI 507 (Thiruvananthapuram- Chennai- Bangalore), AI 263 (Thiruvananthapuram- Male), AI 668 (Thiruvananthapuram- Mumbai) and AI 511 (Thiruvananthapuram- Chennai) were cancelled on Monday. As the AI 263 operating from Thiruvananthapuram was cancelled, Air India has arranged an additional flight from Thiruvananthapuram, which will reach Male at 7 pm and Bangalore at 7.45 pm. All international flights too have been cancelled. In view of the cancelled Sharjah flight AI 967, an additional Air India Express flight was arranged at 7 pm.
There is a last-minute rush to book seats at private airlines. Most of the private airlines which offered lower rates and special packages have temporarily shelved the schemes in view of the heavy rush. According to PTI reports, private airlines have hiked fares up to 50 percent. “The airlines are operating on basket pricing, that is prices vary from A to Z sections. Till the beginning of the strike, more seats were available at low prices. Now there is a drastic cut in this number,” a senior official working with a private carrier said. He cited heavy rush as the reason for high rates.
“Over-booking is common these days. So the airlines make money by selling seats at the last minute,” he said. But, no private carrier operated additional flights from Thiruvananthapuram in view of the crisis.
Air India continued to issue endorsements to passengers to fly by a private carrier using the same ticket when a flight gets cancelled because of the strike. The airline’s commercial staff check with private carriers whether seats are available before issuing the endorsement. Sources at the airport said that private airlines offer seats to Air India only after selling maximum seats at exorbitant rates.
More than 800 pilots affiliated to Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) have been striking for six days now, demanding the ouster of Air India Chairman Arvind Jadhav, a fixed-pay salary and better working conditions.
Ends
First Published : 02 May 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: They have become the kings of bad times. The crisis at Air India has turned out to be a treasure chest for private airlines operating from the city. Private carriers like IndiGo, Jet Airways, Jet Konnect and Kingfisher are cashing in on the trouble times of Air India.
The Air India pilots’ strike, which entered the sixth day on Monday, is making matters worse with the cancellation of all flights operating from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
All the domestic flights operating from Thiruvananthapuram, including AI 466 (Thiruvananthapuram-Kochi-Delhi), AI 507 (Thiruvananthapuram- Chennai- Bangalore), AI 263 (Thiruvananthapuram- Male), AI 668 (Thiruvananthapuram- Mumbai) and AI 511 (Thiruvananthapuram- Chennai) were cancelled on Monday. As the AI 263 operating from Thiruvananthapuram was cancelled, Air India has arranged an additional flight from Thiruvananthapuram, which will reach Male at 7 pm and Bangalore at 7.45 pm. All international flights too have been cancelled. In view of the cancelled Sharjah flight AI 967, an additional Air India Express flight was arranged at 7 pm.
There is a last-minute rush to book seats at private airlines. Most of the private airlines which offered lower rates and special packages have temporarily shelved the schemes in view of the heavy rush. According to PTI reports, private airlines have hiked fares up to 50 percent. “The airlines are operating on basket pricing, that is prices vary from A to Z sections. Till the beginning of the strike, more seats were available at low prices. Now there is a drastic cut in this number,” a senior official working with a private carrier said. He cited heavy rush as the reason for high rates.
“Over-booking is common these days. So the airlines make money by selling seats at the last minute,” he said. But, no private carrier operated additional flights from Thiruvananthapuram in view of the crisis.
Air India continued to issue endorsements to passengers to fly by a private carrier using the same ticket when a flight gets cancelled because of the strike. The airline’s commercial staff check with private carriers whether seats are available before issuing the endorsement. Sources at the airport said that private airlines offer seats to Air India only after selling maximum seats at exorbitant rates.
More than 800 pilots affiliated to Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) have been striking for six days now, demanding the ouster of Air India Chairman Arvind Jadhav, a fixed-pay salary and better working conditions.
Ends
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