India-based Airlines - AI Is Loving IT's Problems

http://www.firstpost.com/business/debt-stricken-air-indias-ticket-sales-jump-32-pct-in-february-240400.html

Debt-stricken Air India has registered another improvement in year-on-year performance in February, with average passenger revenue growing by a healthy
32 percent, a senior airline official said.

While revenue from international network grew 20 percent, the same from the domestic network rose nearly 58 percent during the period, taking the overall revenue rise to 32 percent.

“The airline’s on-time performance has improved by up to 80 percent across the network, in the first week of March, reaching as high as 88 percent on 8 March,” the official told PTI.

While capacity on its international services remained more or less stagnant, on the domestic service, it went up by 20 percent and on the overall network by 4 percent, he added.

There was also an increase in the number of passengers carried, which went up 13.4 percent on the overall network, he said.

The airline’s yield per revenue kilometre increased 17 percent on international routes and nearly 31 percent on its domestic routes. On the overall network, there has been a 24
percent increase in the yield.

Increase in fuel cost, however, continues to dent Air India’s substantial increase in revenues, he said.

“However, aviation turbine fuel prices alone registered an increase of 20 percent in February. For the entire year, Air India expects the impact of the increase in aviation
turbine fuel to be in the region of Rs 2,000 crore.

“On a cumulative basis, from April 2011 to February 2012, its fuel cost has gone up by 40 percent. If it was not for the fuel price we would have done far better,” he said. He said the airline is also examining the idea of direct import of fuel as recently permitted by the government to save on fuel cost.

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After a fantastic January, their February has been good too. I assume that 9W, 6E, G8 and SG have also seen these effects. Clearing out the excess capacity in the market (in the form of IT) has clearly been very good for the rest of the market.

I just hope that nobody decides to capacity dump now...

I am booked on IT for DEL-DXB-DEL next week. Considering the ongoing fiasco the only insurance for me was to buy AI also for same dates which I did atleast at 30% higher prices than IT. I was also shocked to note that AI is operating 777 on the sector!
Am keeping both options open at present and see how things move on in the week ahead with IT and if they go down atleast I can bank upon AI.
So yes AI surely is making merry and another point their fare was even cheaper than INDIGO! :cool:

Enjoy the flight..

As for 6E's fare, that shows you something about the types of yields they can command. It's all about branding and perception...

I am booked on IT for DEL-DXB-DEL next week. Considering the ongoing fiasco the only insurance for me was to buy AI also for same dates which I did atleast at 30% higher prices than IT. I was also shocked to note that AI is operating 777 on the sector!
Am keeping both options open at present and see how things move on in the week ahead with IT and if they go down atleast I can bank upon AI.
So yes AI surely is making merry and another point their fare was even cheaper than INDIGO! :cool:
If I were you, I'd cancel the IT ticket and try to get my money back asap. My worry is that IT will cancel the flight before you go and their bank accounts will be frozen so you won't be able to get a refund. Or, even worse, once you're in DXB, you find out that the return flight was canceled and you're forced to buy a last-minute international one-way ticket.

If I were you, I'd cancel the IT ticket and try to get my money back asap. My worry is that IT will cancel the flight before you go and their bank accounts will be frozen so you won't be able to get a refund. Or, even worse, once you're in DXB, you find out that the return flight was canceled and you're forced to buy a last-minute international one-way ticket.

Nah. I'd wait for the IT flight to be cancelled (which will probably happen). Then just do a credit card chargeback. Simple and best option...

Make sure that the fine print of your credit card allows for this though. If you purchased the ticket more than 60 days before the flight (or more depending on your specific card), then you should initiate chargeback on the 60th day for refusal to refund. Otherwise, you will never see your money again.

Make sure that the fine print of your credit card allows for this though.
That's the key thing. I'm not sure Indian credit cards allow for this. Or that even if they do, the call center agent is competent enough to do it.
You're right- it's important to read the fine print of the credit card and perhaps call them and ask for details now.

Any case am booked through CLEARTRIP with them. Also I bought the ticket from them in Dubai in AED on my UAE issued credit card from the UAE entity of Cleartrip. If they play around they would have to battle it out in UAE where unlike India courts do take note of such affairs.
As PVD said i am waiting for it to cancel out in a day or two... although from 40 days every scheduled flight to Dubai did Fly! Lets see what happens for next 72 hours and I shall make my move accordingly.

I just hope that nobody decides to capacity dump now...

This is the exact thought I had after reading the article.

Enjoy the flight..

As for 6E's fare, that shows you something about the types of yields they can command. It's all about branding and perception...

6E lost my booking because-
- I would not choose a A321 over a 777. I prefer a large plane and since childhood my first flight on EK 777 I have loved it! AI won when I saw equipment listed as 777 for the flight now its my luck if they at last moment dont change it!
- AI is full service and in 6E with a higher fare if I have to buy everything it doesnt make sense for me atleast.

I do like 6E. Traveled domestic on it quite alot very efficient but compared to full service they would always be my second choice unless they offer me dirt cheap price! ;)

6E lost my booking because-
- I would not choose a A321 over a 777. I prefer a large plane and since childhood my first flight on EK 777 I have loved it! If you loved EK's 777s, AI's are going to be your favorite planes on earth. EK's 777s are 10 across in Y class. AI's are 9 across. The extra width of that seat missing is distributed to the rest of the seats, making the seat pretty much infinitely more comfortable
AI won when I saw equipment listed as 777 for the flight now its my luck if they at last moment dont change it! Doesn't appear to have been any equipment swaps recently on this route....

- AI is full service and in 6E with a higher fare if I have to buy everything it doesnt make sense for me atleast.
Yep, absolutely
I do like 6E. Traveled domestic on it quite alot very efficient but compared to full service they would always be my second choice unless they offer me dirt cheap price! ;)
Indeed. The main advantage of flying SG for me (normally the most competitive airline ex-HYD) is price. If AI (or 9W full service for that matter) is matching or cheaper than SG/6E, it's a no-brainer...

If you loved EK's 777s, AI's are going to be your favorite planes on earth. EK's 777s are 10 across in Y class. AI's are 9 across. The extra width of that seat missing is distributed to the rest of the seats, making the seat pretty much infinitely more comfortable

You overestimate the comfort. Bear in mind EK's aisle's are also narrower, and the extra seat width is distributed across 9 seats and two aisles.


Indeed. The main advantage of flying SG for me (normally the most competitive airline ex-HYD) is price. If AI (or 9W full service for that matter) is matching or cheaper than SG/6E, it's a no-brainer...

Unless AI was substantially cheaper than SG/6E, I'd still stick with the low cost options. To me, food / "full service" on a 2 hour domestic hop is a non issue and getting to my destination on time is paramount, and SG/6E are less susceptible to the whims and fancies of the Civ Av Minister and babu's.

777s are almost universally nasty, regardless of airline.

To add to the awful configuration most airlines deploy (as a result of the aircraft design), it is probably the most boring, characterless aircraft ever.

I am booked on IT for DEL-DXB-DEL next week.

when is your flight????i recently heard they were going to cancel this route for now....

when is your flight????i recently heard they were going to cancel this route for now....

My DEP is 17th return is 24th. Despite all the commotion I have not yet read anything for Dubai anywhere. It seems they are continuing this route. Although to be safe I booked AI as well for same dates. I would wait for IT to cancel or do it myself in next 48 hours!

EDIT: Todays flight to DXB IT 41 was cancelled!

777s are almost universally nasty, regardless of airline.

To add to the awful configuration most airlines deploy (as a result of the aircraft design), it is probably the most boring, characterless aircraft ever.

I like AA, CX 77W...

Although to be safe I booked AI as well for same dates. I would wait for IT to cancel or do it myself in next 48 hours!



Couldnt wait for them to go bust. Cancelled just now with CLEARTRIP to avoid an excuse that airlines is bankrupt or something. Going to inform my credit card as well CLEARTRIP UAE says needs 20 days to refund. Not once they said they would not refund probably a good sign.
Total Cost cancellation for 2 tickets - $45
New Tickets additional cost on AI - $250 (iF i REBOOKED TODAY Would have been $500)
Result - Really pissed but relieved of end moment hassle!
Moral of the story - IT is was good knowing you. I have 50k miles on IT for sale any takers :P

Moral of the story - IT is was good knowing you. I have 50k miles on IT for sale any takers :P

You should donate to the prize pool :D
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airlines-india/924037-predictions-end-kingfisher-airlines.html