As passenger traffic approaches pre-pandemic points, airlines are expanding their flights on domestic and foreign routes. In May 2022, domestic and foreign air passenger traffic achieved 93% and 72% respectively, a point last observed in May 2019. in the same until FY24.
“After more than two years of restrictions, pent-up demand is driving the preference for Array. Despite capacity exercises and emerging aviation jet fuel (ATF) costs, leading to a 25-30% increase in airfares, sentiment is at an all-time high. ” said Indiver Rastogi, President and Group Head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC, FE. We are seeing strong demand from the commercial and recreational segments with a shift in customer (business) habit as customers who used to prefer through exercise are now opting for airlines to save time, he added.
From a recreational perspective, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC recorded a 250% increase in flight bookings to domestic destinations in February compared to January, on a weak basis, and the following months saw an increase of 30-35%. Companies are seeing a “sustained expansion” in business travel, which is almost at the same point as before the pandemic. Since the resumption of foreign flights and the rest of the travel/health protocols worldwide, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC have noticed a monthly expansion of 25% in flight bookings. Rastogi said Indian consumers are willing to pay more than 25 to 30 percent of pre-pandemic rates.
“In fact, we have noticed an expansion in air bookings, as market sentiment is positive lately due to revenge tourism. We have already reached our pre-Covid numbers and have in fact noticed a 78% increase in CAGR in FY20-22 in terms of earnings,” said Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip. The company said it saw a 30 to 40 percent increase in domestic and international flight transactions after they restarted.
IndiGo started flights to Deoghar, its 74th domestic destination, and announced Bahrain as its 25th foreign destination earlier this month. The airline also increased its frequencies between Delhi-Leh, Delhi-Srinagar and Lucknow-Pantnagar. reported, announced the launch of 26 new domestic flights on July 19. The airline will connect Nashik to Hyderabad and Delhi to Khajuraho with new and additional flights, respectively, in addition to introducing a multitude of direct flights from Delhi to Nashik, Hyderabad to Jammu and Mumbai to Guwahati, among others. other.
Vistara added a new address to its foreign network with direct connectivity between Mumbai and Bangkok earlier this month. Recently increased the frequency between Delhi and Bangkok to flights. Last month, it announced nonstop flights between Jeddah and Mumbai. Go First announced last month direct flights from Kochi to Abu Dhabi, as well as resuming direct flights to and from Srinagar to Sharjah.