The Hindu Business Line : Passenger first on Indian's consolidation flight plan

In the new year the experience of flying with the state-owned airline, Indian, will begin at home. The airline plans to introduce web-based check-in that will allow a passenger to arrive at the airport, collect the boarding card and head for the security check without having to wait at the airport check-in counter.

Sources told Business Line that the new initiative is a part of the larger technological upgrade being planned with the airline putting in place a modern Passenger Service System (PSS). The web check-in, initially likely to be available in the metros, will become a country-wide facility in phases, from early next year.

Proactive moves

This is just one of the proactive steps being taken by the airline to consolidate its position and increase market share. Indian recently tied up with two global distribution service (GDS) providers — Galileo and Amadeus. These tie-ups are in addition to the existing ones with Abacus. This will give travel agents worldwide easier access to the Indian inventory.

The Customer Relationship Module of PSS will use web tools to offer a host of benefits, including recording the entire history of a passenger's recent travel on the airline and his comments and feedback. Other features of the PSS include self-service check-in at kiosks and services for passengers with special needs.

Fleet expansion

All this comes at a time when the airline is gearing to induct more Airbus aircraft into its fleet. While the first of the 43 Airbus aircraft purchased has already joined the fleet, the airline is to receive the second towards the middle of next year and it will then receive one aircraft every month till 2010. In addition, the airline is also exploring the possibility of expanding its international route network to such new markets as South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong and the UK. The airline recently concluded an agreement for leasing two Airbus A-330s.

MRO Facility

Indian is also trying to better utilise its existing fleet and has added 3,000 additional seats in the just-announced winter schedule for this year. Besides, the airline is exploring new avenues for generating additional incomes and saving money. Probably with this in mind it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the French company Snecma to set up a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. The project cost is estimated at around $30 million with Indian holding a 49 per cent stake in it.

The MRO facility would not only look after the needs of the airline but also service close to 200 similar engines in use in India, the airline Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Vishwapati Trivedi said.

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