Page 2 - Domestic Air Travel

How Indians travel and spend: Amsterdam, London top summer destinations

The first three months of 2024 have registered 97 million passengers traveling through Indian airports for both international and domestic trips

Akasa Air now allows carriage of pets weighing up to 10 kg in cabin

Akasa Air passengers can now carry pets that weigh up to 10 kilograms in the cabin of domestic flights, with the airline on Wednesday saying the enhancement to its pet travel service has been done after taking customer feedback into consideration. In November 2022, the airline introduced the service wherein passengers have been allowed to travel on domestic flights with their cats and dogs in the cabin or cargo, based on their weight. "As part of the enhancements, Akasa Air now allows customers to travel with pets weighing up to 10 kg (including the weight of the container) in the cabin -- an increase from the previous limit of 7 kg. This change has been introduced keeping customer feedback in mind, reflecting the airline's commitment to continuously enhance its services to meet the evolving travel needs of its customers," the airline said in a release. In the cargo, pets weighing up to 32 kg are allowed by Akasa Air. According to the release, the airline has carried more than 3,20

Indians prepare for summer travel despite heat waves, soaring fares: Report

IMD expects May 2024 to record a higher than normal number of heat wave days in various parts of the country

Over 44% passengers paid extra charges on booking flight tickets: Survey

As much as 44 per cent respondents in a survey complained that they had to pay extra charges to get a seat at the time of purchase of a flight ticket. Many of the respondents also reported paying between Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 as seat allocation fee, which can amount to 5-40 per cent of the air fare, LocalCircles, which carried out the survey, said in a statement. It also said there has been a very marginal improvement in the last 12 months in the ability of consumers to get a free seat when booking their flight. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and consumer regulator CCPA late last year convened a meeting of the airlines on the issue and questioned them about the alleged unfair trade practices and misleading claims of "free" web check-in, it said. The new survey, which received over 41,000 responses from consumers across 339 districts of the country, has focused on fliers' problems when booking for travel with family members, particularly young children, LocalCircles said. According

SpiceJet adds 10 aircraft to fleet ahead of busy summer schedule

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet has finalised lease agreements for 10 aircraft to ensure seamless travel during the upcoming summer season

Air passenger traffic in India likely to reach 300 mn by 2030: Scindia

The number of domestic passengers in India is expected to surge to 300 million annually by 2030 from 153 million in 2023, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. Speaking at the inaugural session of Wings India 2024, a civil aviation conclave and exhibition here, Scindia also said the number of airports, and waterports will increase to over 200 from the existing 149 in the country. With 300 million passengers a year in 2030, India's aviation penetration would be at 10 to 15 per cent and still be a potential market. He noted that the domestic air passenger traffic witnessed 15 per cent growth CAGR while that of international 6.1 per cent in the last decade. In the last 15 years, domestic cargo witnessed a growth of 60 per cent international at 53 per cent. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh and Telangana Minister K Venkat Reddy also spoke on the occasion.

Domestic air passenger traffic grew 8.34% to 152 mn in 2023: DGCA data

India's domestic air passenger traffic grew 8.34 per cent year-on year to 15.20 crore in calendar year 2023. The total domestic passenger volumes in the year-ended December 31, 2022 were recorded at 12.32 crore, as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data released on Monday. The domestic air passenger traffic in December 2023, however, rose 23.36 per cent at 1.37 crore, as against 1.27 crore flown by all local carriers in 2022. Of the total domestic passenger traffic, no-frills carrier IndiGo flew 9.19 crore with a market share of 60.5 per cent, followed by full-service carrier Air India, which transported 1.47 domestic passengers and commanded 9.7 per cent market share. Another full-service carrier Vistara, which is a joint venture between Air India and Singapore airlines had a 9.1 market share in 2023 with 1.38-crore passengers while Tata Group subsidiary airline AIX connect flew 1.08 crore passengers with a market share of 7.2 per cent, according to data. Simil

Air travel favourable option during new year, no festival surge in fare

This adjustment in airfares can be attributed to airlines' efforts to rectify the missteps observed prior to Diwali, according to aviation industry officials

Domestic air traffic touches new peak with 4,59,526 passengers on Nov 20

For the third straight day, the country's domestic air traffic touched a new peak on Monday as airlines carried 4,59,526 passengers. With the traffic numbers touching a fresh single-day record on Monday (November 20), the civil aviation ministry said that post-Covid, India's domestic aviation turnaround story has not just been overwhelming but inspiring as well. "Positive attitude, progressive policies, and deep trust among passengers are taking it to new heights with every flight, every day," the ministry said in a post on X. On November 20 (Monday), there were 4,59,526 passengers and the total flight movements stood at 5,958, as per the latest official data. The count of domestic air passengers was at 3,94,07 and the number of flight movements was 5,468 on November 20, 2022. Sharing a graphic of the figures, the ministry said, "India's domestic aviation touching new skies, daily". Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said, "Another day, another record!". In

Easy hacks: 47% Indians willing to alter travel plans for bargain deals

Over half of Indians (55%) are planning purpose-related travel in India to engage in activities such as scuba diving, golf, yoga, or wellness retreats.

Record plane orders by Air India, IndiGo raise stakes in aviation boom

With a total of almost 1,000 jet orders between them, IndiGo and Air India are betting an economic boom and growing middle class will spur demand for domestic air travel

IndiGo's audacity? Media platform founder complains about high ticket costs

Chaturvedi took to Twitter and shared her disappointment after she had to pay Rs 21,000 for a one-way ticket from New Delhi to Ahmedabad

With Go First gone, rivals Air India, IndiGo, others ramp up flights

The government of India has also allotted cash-strapped Go First slots after representations that airports will lose money if they are not utilised

Latest LIVE: Delhi-Deogarh fight diverted to Lucknow after bomb threat

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Domestic air passenger traffic up by 96% in Jan from last year: Icra

Domestic air passenger traffic touched 1.25 crore in January this year, an increase of 96 per cent compared to the year-ago period, according to rating agency Icra. However, it said the traffic remained around 2 per cent lower compared to the pre-Covid levels -- January 2020. The traffic stood at 64 lakh in January last year. Icra is maintaining a negative outlook on the Indian aviation industry, reflecting the view that the financial performance of Indian airlines is likely to remain under pressure in the near term, even though the recovery in domestic passenger traffic has been healthy. While a meaningful improvement in passenger traffic is expected in FY2023, the pace of recovery in the industry earnings will be gradual, it said on Wednesday. Icra noted that the net loss in FY2023 is expected to be notably lower compared to Rs 235 billion (RS 23,500 crore) net loss in FY2022, primarily due to recovery in passenger traffic, fare hikes and lower interest burden. In January this y

Airlines in India to add 100 aircraft per year to fly 412 mn passengers

As Indigo Airline has expanded its fleet to 300 aircraft, the countrys airlines' fleet is likely to add over 100 aircraft every year till the next few years

Aviation ministry modifies rule to make masks optional on domestic flights

In-flight announcements may only mention that all passengers should preferably use masks/face covers; no specific reference to fine/penal action needed

Going abroad? Declare pre-existing disease even when buying travel policy

Take country, trip duration, and your age into account when deciding on the sum insured

Festive demands up airfares by 20-30% on key routes across country

The hike in airfare prices is a result of the increased cost of aviation turbine fuel, according to ixigo's data

Akasa Air is well-capitalised, to add one aircraft every two weeks: CEO

Vinay Dube said the airline was well-capitalised to induct 72 aircraft over next 5 years, while mourning the death of Akasa's top backer and ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala who passed away on Sunday