Airlines sceptical about recovery in winter, play safe on number of flights

None, save IndiGo & Vistara, are confident enough deploy even 50 per cent capacity for winter schedule, reducing chance of a faster recovery

Most Indian airlines don’t expect to utilise 60 per cent capacity in the next three months, show initial filings for the winter schedule.

While the Centre has allowed carriers to operate at 60 per cent of original capacity in the domestic sector, airlines — except for IndiGo and Vistara — are not confident of deploying even 50 per cent of that.

Starting from October 25 and running up to March 31, the winter schedule comprises the remaining part of Q3 and the entire Q4 of FY21.  

This is in sharp contrast to China where domestic flights in September crossed last year’s levels, official