Indian low cost carrier routes witness an increase in flight searches: Skyscanner

ETW STAFF – Mumbai

Following a number of Indian carriers slashing their airfares triggered by the anticipated low passenger loads of the coming months, domestic and international routes operated by low cost airlines in India have seen an increase in searches as revealed by a travel search site.  International destinations such as Singapore and Dubai recorded the highest increase in flight searches on low cost carrier routes.

Skyscanner, one of the leading global travel search site identified the domestic and international routes operated by low cost Indian carriers such as Air India Express, Indigo, SpiceJet and GoAir from December 25, 2012 – January 25, 2013 over the corresponding period last year.  Bengaluru was the most searched destination on budget flights with flights from Delhi to Bengaluru reporting a 138 per cent increase in flight searches since last year as well as  flights from Mumbai to Bengaluru seeing a 418 per cent increase in flight searches. The Indian metro cities of Kolkata and Ahmedabad have also witnessed an increase in low budget flight searches.

On international sectors, short haul budget flights were preferred amongst Indian travellers with Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok recording the highest number of flight searches respectively.

Commenting on the research findings, Kavitha Gnanamurthy, market development manager for India, Skyscanner said, “Our findings indicate that most Indian travellers have preferred low cost carriers for travel within the country with metropolises such as Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad recording an increase in searches as compared with the same period last year.  For short international travel, it’s not surprising that Indians prefer not to burn a hole in their pockets with ‘no-frills’ airlines recording an increase in flight searches to destinations such as Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok.