Public sector international carrier Air-India (A-I) is carrying over 750 passengers a day on various domestic routes, much to the chagrin of the domestic airlines.
The domestic airlines say A-I is offering over 15 domestic connections per day. A-I's fares, even for day flights, are cheaper by Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 in most cases.
According to data compiled by the domestic carriers, A-I carried 280 passengers during the first week of July _ when a fare war began _ on the Mumbai-Delhi flights.
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On the Delhi-Mumbai flights A-I carried around 104 passengers in the same period.
On the Delhi-Mumbai route, A-I's charges are cheaper by at least Rs 1,200.
The data had been compiled since the domestic airlines were feeling the pinch, with traffic practically stagnating and competition among the three operators increasing.
According to the data, A-I is carrying around 85 and 100 passengers daily on Chennai-Mumbai and Cochin-Mumbai flights, respectively.
Domestic airlines say that A-I is taking away a big chunk of the stagnant domestic traffic. Executives working with these airlines argue that A-I and the government keep harping on the fact that Indian Airlines (IA), the state-owned domestic carrier, is operating on various profitable international routes but has ignored A-I's invasion into the domestic market.
However, industry sources say IA is likely to take up this issue with the civil aviation ministry.
"It is easy for A-I to capture this market as it is incremental traffic for the carrier. It can sell tickets at whatever price it wishes. The flights would operate in any case," an industry watcher said. A-I officials argue that passengers gain since they fly in bigger aircraft and `in international comfort