Domestic airlines will operate 21% more flights in winter schedule

During this year's winter schedule, there will be 16,600 flights per week compared to 13,744 flights per week last winter

Domestic airlines will operate 16,600 flights per week in the winter schedule — a growth of 20.8 per cent over last winter. The growth is led by IndiGo and Vistara, which will operate 40 per cent more flights this winter.

For the second consecutive season, the Mumbai airport will not have an addition in domestic flights as a result of runway capacity constraint while other metros will see an increase in departures. In winter, domestic airlines plan to operate flights to 75 airports pulling out six destinations from the network — Mysuru, Nanded, Porbandar, Durgapur, Puducherry and Car Nicobar. Last winter, airlines flew to 81 destinations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved the winter schedule of domestic airlines on Tuesday. According to the DGCA, there will be a 20.8 per cent increase in the number of flights in winter 2016 with 16,600 flights per week compared to 13,744 flights per week last winter.

However, the actual number of flights operated by airlines could turn out to be lower if Mumbai and Bengaluru airports go ahead with simultaneous repairs to the runways between February and April. Airlines have requested the two airports not to proceed with works simultaneously.

IndiGo, which plans to induct 24 Airbus A320neo aircraft, has proposed to operate 6,276 weekly flights. This is 42 per cent higher over winter 2015 operation. The airline has proposed new flights from Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. Sources say this includes new flights between Kolkata and Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai-Lucknow and Chennai-Goa.

Vistara, which will have 13 aircraft by the end of this month, will operate nearly 50 per cent more flights this winter and proposed 490 flights per week.

The airline has proposed a new flight between Delhi-Amritsar and will expand capacity on some of its existing routes.

GoAir is increasing its flights by 25 per cent to 1,209 weekly flights. It will launch new services from Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The airline is adding seven aircraft this year and will increase its fleet to 27 by March 2017.

SpiceJet’s flights will go up 14 per cent in the upcoming schedule while Jet Airways and Air India have a near flat growth in domestic flights.

“The domestic demand, which is growing in upwards of 20 per cent is expected to reach the 100-million mark in FY17 from 85 million passengers in FY16. Passenger load factors could remain steady at existing levels. However, what remains critical for the industry profitability is the pricing to keep this demand growth momentum growing,” said an analyst from a domestic brokerage.

• The approval to Air Pegasus schedule is in abeyance now as the airline operations are suspended
   
• Total number of flights to increase 20.9% on a year-on-year basis
   
• No addition to domestic flights at Mumbai airport
   
• Domestic airlines to operate flights at 75 airports in winter 2016