The financial downslide took its toll on the Indian Aviation sector with the passenger traffic recording a negative growth rate of about 8 per cent in the first half of this year. Passengers carried by domestic airliners between January and June 2009 came down to about 21.1 million from 22.9 million in the same period last year thereby registering a negative growth. However, the total domestic passengers carried by the Indian Scheduled Airliners in the second quarter of 2009 was 10.94 million against 9.82 million between January and March.

 

The percentage market share of the carriers between January and June showed that Air India (Domestic) cornered 17.5 percent,Jetairways16.3 percent, Jet Lite 7.4 percent, Kingfisher Airlines (including Kingfisher Red)25.3,SpiceJet 12.4,Paramount 2.1,GoAir 4.9 and Indigo 13.7.

 

Fighting desperately against a down turning aviation scenario in India and everywhere else the lobby body of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) has sought Government of India intervention to help them. All Private Airlines have requested for lowering of taxes on jet fuel and abolishing Airport Charges. The cartel of FIA has informed that they plan to suspend their operations on the18th of August as a token protest against inaction to their demands.

 

Among these airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Spice Jet and Indigo are yet to pay Rs.212 Crore to the Airports Authority of India for using its infrastructure. Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Spice Jet also owe Rs.1726 crore to oil marketing companies.

 

 

The need of the hour is to develop an innovative business model by all in the aviation fraternity where the maximum people benefit with minimum overheads and cost. Because in a country where98% people travel by train and only a meager 2% by air the Endeavour should be to allow maximum people fly in an innovative and efficient business model. Any extra flab can be deducted to achieve this. The need of the hour is not to get together to form a cartel and fix prices because that could start less occupancy in all the flights and start of airline woe.

  

So let us not blame each other for whatever we are into and come up strongly with -

• long term strategy which focus on continuous reorganization of processes and resourses

• develop our non aviation activity in a manner to increase profits introduce cost cutting measures

• develop strategy to make our airports the place where multifarious activities be it cargo, MRO or any commercial activity flourish

 

                With proper planning, organized actions and introspection we shall survive the BAD WEATHER.

SO LET US.