SpiceJet joins low-fare race

Budget carrier SpiceJet today joined the low-fare race in the domestic market putting on the block half-a-million seats with ticket prices starting at Rs 1,499, days after the government gave a go-ahead to its revival plan under the new promoters.
The bookings under the three-day "Super Sale" offer can be made from today for a travel period between February 15 to June 30, SpiceJet said in a release.
The offer comes close on the heels of other airlines -- AirAsia India, Jet Airways, Air India and IndiGo -- rolling out similar schemes amid low travel demand season.
March and September quarters of the fiscal are traditionally lean seasons for the airlines in the country, and they woo customers with low fares to fill the empty seats.

"We are excited to offer our first signature promotion for 2015 to incentivise customers. Such Super Sale offers are meant to sell in advance at attractive prices seats that would otherwise be expected to go empty, thereby improving revenues," SpiceJet Chief Commercial Officer Kaneswaran Avili said.
A quick glance at the seat factor, according to a recent DGCA data, suggests that domestic carriers had almost 10 per cent higher occupancy in their planes in the December quarter of 2014 as compared to the March quarter of that year.
"Such offers have made a trip by air even more affordable than train or bus travel for those willing to book early to grab these offers," he added.

"As we continue on our re-structuring path, the return of our Super Sale in 2015 at the onset of low season comes after a gap of few months, shows the airline is back on track," he said.