A bunch of regional airlines are readying for take-off. Southern India is regarded as the better market for these airlines as, unlike the rest of the country.
Connectivity issues could create an air pocket
MUMBAI: A bunch of regional airlines are readying for take-off. Southern India is regarded as the better market for these airlines as, unlike the rest of the country, regional carriers in the South have the option of connecting major cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi.
But an air pocket that might be awaiting them is the rickety and long ride to and from the spanking new airports coming up outside the city in Hyderabad and more so in Bangalore.
Consider an example, for a flight from Bangalore to Chennai, the total time taken is four and a half hours. Of this the actual flight takes only 45 minutes.
Here’s a break-up:
Bangalore to Devanahalli airport- 2 hours; Reporting time-1 hour; Flying time- 45 minutes; Chennai airport to city centre-45 minutes.
In comparison, the time taken by the Shatabdi Express between these cities is five hours.
The clinching argument is the executive class AC train fare in Shatabdi, which is Rs 1,080. Air fares are significantly higher.
A Bangalore-based airline executive who did not want to reveal identity said, “A large number of IT professionals fly to their home towns in Tamil Nadu and Kerala every month. Many of these casual travelers might switch to trains and Volvo buses. This is mostly because of the poor connectivity to the new airport. If you take a taxi to the airport, it adds another Rs 1,000 to your expenses. You can go to Chennai, Coimbatore or Kochi by bus for half that amount.”
Should this mean that it is prudent for regional airlines to delay the launch of services until such time airport connectivity is sorted out?
Officials of regional airlines are defending their turf based on the argument that flying means better quality of travel. Dorai Raj, executive director, Star Aviation, said, “I have just one thing to say. Train travel is totally different to flying.”
Koustav M Dhar, ED, marketing and planning, MDLR Airlines, believes that it is just a matter of time before the infrastructure woes are sorted out. “It would take another year or so for most of the regional carriers to take flight… and by that time the roads and such connectivity should be ready.”
He, however, admits that trains might make more sense for a price sensitive flyer, “From the consumer’s point of view, it might really not work unless proactive measures are taken.”
Analysts believe that the onus for airport connectivity should also be with the airport developer.
Mark D Martin, senior advisor-aviation, KPMG, said, “Airport connectivity is one of the biggest concerns in the airport business. Airport operators should take the initiative rather than leave the sensitive issue of road connectivity to the government. But I don’t think that the connectivity issue would matter for regional airlines as they would eventually grow to offer an enhanced regional network, spanning a number of cities and towns and not just state capitals and this is where the most revenue can be generated from.”
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