India-based Airlines - ATR's and Q400's

I have been seeing Jet airways and Spicejet deployiong their ATR's and Q400's(and ordering more of them) for most of the tier2(infact tier1 too)cities where they can land their 737's. Now on the same routes Indigo flyes A320's. Now why will I ever want to fly an ATR or Q400 which takes more time and less comfortable when the prices are same(Mostly the prices are same too). Mostly if the prices are same I look at the aircraft type and chose the plane. I think all these carriers who deploy those turbo-props should reduce their fares than the narrow body planes. I think the airlines still think that people are still unaware of what they are flying(Dont you think atleast 30% does). Do you think the airlines are missing a trick here? What do you guys think on this?

A lot of the sectors that 9W/SQ are flying with the ATR/Q400 don't warrant a larger plane, given passenger volumes
Even on sectors like MAA-BLR, given the short distance and quicker turnaround time, you could argue that the ATR/Q400 are better choices
Turboprops might just edge out jets on per-passenger fuel costs and profitability?


Spicejet especially seems to be well-poised to take a bulk of Tier-2/Tier-3 traffic, with its plan to grow the Q400 fleet. But, DEL-IXE on a Q400 - 5.50 hour flight? That will be an interesting flight to be on for sure

I completely understand from airlines point of view. But from passengers point of view if A320 has the same price as an ATR, then why will I board the ATR?

If the schedule schedule, price, and/or comfort is right, people will fly. The Q is the winner for all 3 categories for HYD-IXE (only nonstop, always cheapest, reasonably comfortable), so I fly it fairly often. Connecting in BOM just to fly AI is not worth it.

Personally, I find the Q more comfortable than the A320s, especially sitting in the back. 2x2 seating is less claustrophobia-inducing as well. I guess it's just a matter of preference.

Just flew the Q400 on IXE-MAA-IXE and have to agree as well. Also flew on the ATR between IXE and BLR and definitely prefer the Q400 to the ATR.

The 737 is my #1, but the convenience of a direct flight (and the ability to skip BOM/BLR) will always outweigh getting to fly on a 737 or an A320.

I completely understand from airlines point of view. But from passengers point of view if A320 has the same price as an ATR, then why will I board the ATR?

fair enough....but it all depends from person to person....i am rarely traveling in economy but when i am then i don't really care if its an a320 or an atr....i'll just go with whichever timing works better for me....

It is interesting to see quite a few fliers to IXE. I am from IXE and I use blr for connection when I fly to UK. I am tempted this time to fly to Del and try spicejet. Is it right that spicejet honours international baggage allowance for no extra charge when connecting to and from international flight? I am flying BA business class with 3 bags of 32 kg.
Thanks
Fiddler

Yes, spicejet honored international allowance last time I tried that (~a year ago).

However, Spicejet does not fly DEL-IXE. Alliance Air flew that for some time, but it got cancelled. SG only flies HYD/BLR/MAA/BOM-IXE.

Yes, spicejet honored international allowance last time I tried that (~a year ago).

However, Spicejet does not fly DEL-IXE. Alliance Air flew that for some time, but it got cancelled. SG only flies HYD/BLR/MAA/BOM-IXE.

On their website there is definitely not option to book ixe-blr. there is availability for ixe-stv-del (direct flight) 5.5 hrs and ixe-hyd and hyd-del total duration 4.1 hrs. I am thinking of giving them a ring to make sure.

Anyways being born and brought up in ixe, smaller the aircraft to land on bajpe runway safer it feels ;)

On their website there is definitely not option to book ixe-blr. there is availability for ixe-svt-del (direct flight) 5.5 hrs and ixe-hyd and hyd-del total duration 4.1 hrs. I am thinking of giving them a ring to make sure.

Anyways being born and brought up in ixe, smaller the aircraft to land on bajpe runway safer it feels ;)

You're right. They serve MAA/STV/HYD/BOM.

I didn't know that any of the flights continued onto Delhi... Good to know.

Edit: It looks like it's a 737 flying DEL-SVT-IXE-BOM-DEL. Flying on a 737 into IXE would feel very weird after getting used to turboprops...

You're right. They serve MAA/STV/HYD/BOM.

I didn't know that any of the flights continued onto Delhi... Good to know.

is it 737 on ixe-stv-del? oops. I thought they were doing all the flights on bombardier q400 and was looking for the q-400 experience. :rolleyes:

is it 737 on ixe-stv-del? oops. I thought they were doing all the flights on bombardier q400 and was looking for the q-400 experience. :rolleyes:

Yes, it's a 737. And the routing is even worse than DEL-STV-IXE-BOM-DEL that I originally thought. It looks like it is DEL-STV-BOM-IXE-BOM-STV-DEL.

I'd fly through BLR/HYD/MAA if I were you. BOM is to be avoided like the plague of course (although it has the redeeming factor of an Air India nonstop to IXE).

The Q is a much nicer bird than the ATR to fly in though.. Well worth the experience.

Yes, it's a 737. And the routing is even worse than DEL-STV-IXE-BOM-DEL that I originally thought. It looks like it is DEL-STV-BOM-IXE-BOM-STV-DEL.



I'd fly through BLR/HYD/MAA if I were you. BOM is to be avoided like the plague of course (although it has the redeeming factor of an Air India nonstop to IXE).



The Q is a much nicer bird than the ATR to fly in though.. Well worth the experience.
Good to know. Changed my mind. It would have been much nicer to have SG on IXE-BLR sector.
:D Agree with you totally there. After 4 years of hell through bom (customs especially. Perverse folk. ) transfers blr is heaven (glorified shed as it is called locally based on a report which looked at workings of closure of HAL airport to make way for devanahalli. Thanks to Maytas construction.). Would not even dream of flying AI though. :D

Good to know. Changed my mind. It would have been much nicer to have SG on IXE-BLR sector. [/quote/]

Probably a good decision ^
[QUOTE=fiddler;18633024]
:D Agree with you totally there. After 4 years of hell through bom (customs especially. Perverse folk. ) transfers blr is heaven (glorified shed as it is called locally based on a report which looked at workings of closure of HAL airport to make way for devanahalli. Thanks to Maytas construction.).

HYD is nicer than BLR in my personal opinion. But both are waay nicer than the airports of old.
Would not even dream of flying AI though.

Why? It's the best FSC for domestic. Because IT is not an option obviously, and 9W has devalued itself enough to be worse and then some. And you can't go wrong with breakfast on AI - the dosas are as good as it gets for airline food on domestic hops...

HYD is by Far the best Indian airport. If I ever to start a hub and spoke airline and choose a hub, HYD would be my only option.

You can never ever go wrong with breakfast on ai. Bring me an airline with better breakfast and I will start working for it tomorrow. Unfortunate part is I hate morning flights. Breakfast is the only saving grace.

Ai ixe-Bom is an afternoon flight. Lunch is ughhhhh. I would rather carry my own fish curry and rice.

HYD is by Far the best Indian airport. If I ever to start a hub and spoke airline and choose a hub, HYD would be my only option.
Not enough O&D demand sadly. And yields are mostly trash...

DEL T3 really is the only option for a hub right now...

If they could pick up HYD airport and drop it in the middle of Delhi, that would be perfect.

You can never ever go wrong with breakfast on ai. Bring me an airline with better breakfast and I will start working for it tomorrow. Unfortunate part is I hate morning flights. Breakfast is the only saving grace.
^


Ai ixe-Bom is an afternoon flight. Lunch is ughhhhh. I would rather carry my own fish curry and rice.
Lunch on AI certainly isn't up to breakfast standards, but it's better than what you get on the competition...

If they could pick up HYD airport and drop it in the middle of Delhi, that would be perfect.

Or on top of T1.

Or on top of T1.

:D^

Only if nag had o&d traffic like Bom and del and HYD terminal scaled upto t3 with the 6 runways planned for delhi. Too much wishful thinking.

I don't have a problem with these aircraft. I like 2-2 seating better than 3-3 anyway. No middle seats!