JAIPUR: The fantasy of cheap air travel for the great middle class has come to an end! The rising rates of air tickets, followed by complete withdrawal of two low-cost airlines from Sanganer airport, has forced the middle class passengers to look for cheaper means like trains. The air travel, which became quite popular in the recent past, especially after the advent of low-cost airlines in 1998, has completed a full circle in a decade.
The number of low-cost airlines operating from the Jaipur airport was four, which catered to nearly 12 destinations across India.
These airlines catered to the needs of over 50% of the domestic passengers till recently, despite the fact that the aircraft movement of these low cost airlines is just 40% of the over all touchdown figure. "The occupancy level of low-cost airlines is much higher than the premier class airlines," said an airport official.
"The Spice Jet, which operates to premium sectors like Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Banglore and Chennai from Jaipur had to shut down its operation followed by the rise in air fare," said the terminal manager, Sanganer airport.
He said that another low-cost airline, Go Air, which operates on a premium sector—Mumbai — too had to close down its operations from Jaipur. However, when contacted, airline officials said "This has to do with operations." This sudden withdrawal has put in trouble hundreds of passengers who had booked their tickets in advance. However, the airlines claim that passengers were informed weeks prior to their flight and they had been granted full refund.
Rakesh Goyal, a resident of Ajmer and a chartered accountant with a private bank, Mumbai, had booked an airticket almost a month ago for his scheduled trip to Mumbai on July 13। "I was informed that the airlines had shut down its operations. Thereafter, I tried with other premium airlines and found that fares were very high. At last, I decided to travel by rail, of which the fare is almost one-third of the premier airlines." On an average, there were about 21-odd flights taking off daily from Jaipur, of which nearly 15 were low cost airlines.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
The number of low-cost airlines operating from the Jaipur airport was four, which catered to nearly 12 destinations across India.
These airlines catered to the needs of over 50% of the domestic passengers till recently, despite the fact that the aircraft movement of these low cost airlines is just 40% of the over all touchdown figure. "The occupancy level of low-cost airlines is much higher than the premier class airlines," said an airport official.
"The Spice Jet, which operates to premium sectors like Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Banglore and Chennai from Jaipur had to shut down its operation followed by the rise in air fare," said the terminal manager, Sanganer airport.
He said that another low-cost airline, Go Air, which operates on a premium sector—Mumbai — too had to close down its operations from Jaipur. However, when contacted, airline officials said "This has to do with operations." This sudden withdrawal has put in trouble hundreds of passengers who had booked their tickets in advance. However, the airlines claim that passengers were informed weeks prior to their flight and they had been granted full refund.
Rakesh Goyal, a resident of Ajmer and a chartered accountant with a private bank, Mumbai, had booked an airticket almost a month ago for his scheduled trip to Mumbai on July 13। "I was informed that the airlines had shut down its operations. Thereafter, I tried with other premium airlines and found that fares were very high. At last, I decided to travel by rail, of which the fare is almost one-third of the premier airlines." On an average, there were about 21-odd flights taking off daily from Jaipur, of which nearly 15 were low cost airlines.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
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