The Hindu Business Line : Jet, Air India in hot chase for US pie

Route rivalry
Jet plans to start a Delhi-Brussels-New York service in November this year. Air India is planning a non-stop New Delhi-New York service for October this year.

Shubhra Tandon

Mumbai, Aug. 10 Jet Airways, which recently launched its Mumbai-Brussels-Newark (US) flight, plans to start a Delhi-Brussels-New York service in November this year. Its domestic rival Air India, is planning a non-stop New Delhi-New York service for October this year.

The competition in the India-US sector is hotting up, with domestic airlines competing not only on fares but racing to offer new services on key sectors as well.

A senior official in Jet Airways told Business Line, “We would be commencing Delhi-Brussels-JFK flight in November.” And, according to sources, the national carrier plans to start its non-stop flight from Delhi by Octobe r-end.

While Jet Airways already claims to have 90 per cent load factor on its newly launched Mumbai-Brussels-Newark flight, Air India, after a slow start, is hoping for better days for its non-stop Mumbai-New York flight, especially as it has slashed its ticket prices .

Mr S. Venkat, Executive Director Finance, of Air India, said: “Although the load factor is not much as of now, it’s a fantastic product and as we progress and people get to know about it, things will change drastically.”

As regards the response from the market, Mr Subhash Motwani, Director, Compact Travels, a travel agency, said, “Jet Airways has an advantage over Air India because it can pick up passengers from Brussels and also started with lower fares as compared to the national carrier. Now that Air India has slashed its prices it should pick up.”

Ms Anjali Thomas, Vice President of Quest 2 Travel.com India Private Ltd, said: “Air India has a great product, newer aircraft and now that they have lowered prices, the response is likely to go up.”

On the issue of Jet gaining over Air India with a halt at Brussels, she said, “I feel if one is young, wants to enjoy on-demand in-flight entertainment system and doesn’t mind travelling, Air India would be a good choice, going straight to JFK. If you are old or someone who doesn’t mind spending time at a halt, one can opt for Jet.”

However, Mr Motwani said that with more airlines coming in the sector, the one offering lowest and best fares would ultimately win. “This is a lean time so only students and business persons travel now. Once the leisure travel season begins, fares would play an important role in determining the winner.”

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