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This winter not only will domestic air passengers have fewer choices but may have to pay more for flights.
This is because airlines plan to trim flights to 10,935 a week down almost a fifth from the 13,541 they operated in winter 2011.
Kingfisher Airlines off the air, the general slowdown, the high level of taxation and fuel charges have forced airlines to reduce the winter offering.
Globally, the winter schedule runs from the last Sunday in October till the last Sunday in March of the following year. Airlines need to the permission of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation to operate flights during this period.
Amber Dubey, partner and head aviation, KPMG, says the capacity may not just push fares up but foresees some consolidation.
IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir, all low-cost airlines, plan to operate more flights this winter compared to last year, while the full-service airlines, including Air India and Jet Airways, will operate fewer services.
No Kingfisher flight has been approved for the winter schedule.
IndiGo leads the pack with a more than 30 per cent increase in the number of flights at 2,447 against 1,879 in 2011 winter. GoAir will operate 675 flights a week, up 15 per cent over the previous year.
SpiceJet will offer 2,233 weekly services, almost nine per cent more than in 2011.
Jet Airways has planned 2,515 flights in winter 2012, down almost 16 per cent from 2,905 previously.
> ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in
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