Indian airlines to expand winter flight operations by 8 pc: Report
A fuel tanker moves past Air India passenger jets parked at an airport in Kolkata
India's airlines are gearing up for the winter season with plans to operate over 8 per cent more flights compared to the previous year. According to regulatory data, there will be 23,732 flight departures every week during the upcoming winter season. This figure is also 1.4 per cent higher than the winter schedule of 2019, the period preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) authorizes flight departures for Indian airlines biannually, covering both summer and winter schedules. The winter schedule is set to take effect from October 29 to March 30.
Major Indian carriers are set to expand their operations significantly. IndiGo, the largest airline in India, will witness the most substantial increase, planning to operate 30 per cent more flights than last year. Air India is also expected to grow its operations by 19 per cent. In contrast, Vistara will see a 2 per cent decrease in proposed flight deployments.
However, the absence of low-cost carrier Go First, which ceased operations in May, has left a gap of over 1,300 flight departures. This comes as a result of Go First's extensive flight schedule in the previous winter season.
According to a report by Mint, Akasa Air will experience a 5 per cent increase in weekly flight departures from the summer schedule and a 65 per cent surge from the last winter schedule. SpiceJet, on the other hand, continues to grapple with capacity issues, with a 33 per cent drop from the previous year and a 5 per cent decrease from the summer schedule.
The additional flights and increased capacity are expected to have a positive impact on ticket prices.
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The 'Winter Schedule 2023' has been meticulously formulated after a slot conference held in September 2023. The DGCA reported that the final slot clearances were acquired from respective airport operators via the eGCA portal.
The increased flight departures will serve 118 airports, with several new airports proposed by scheduled airlines in 'Winter Schedule 2023.'
The Financial Express reported that IndiGo is poised to lead the expansion, with 13,119 weekly flight departures, followed by Air India at 2,367, SpiceJet at 2,132, Vistara at 1,902, and AirAsia India with 1,457 approved flights.
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