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Trapped amidst mounting losses, debt-laden Kingfisher Airlines is fast losing its dedicated customer base.
Banks and multinational companies that formed a major part of Kingfisher's corporate flyers are flying away from the cash-strapped airline owing to the uncertainties surrounding its flight schedules.
According to travel agents, there has been a 60 per cent drop in the business class bookings for Kingfisher. Corporate travellers are moving to other full-service carriers and also opting for low-cost carriers like Indigo and GoAir, the travel agents said.
“Kingfisher has become the least preferred airline for the corporate flyers. There has been a clear shift of 40 to 45 per cent from KFA to other full-service service carriers in the business class segment,” said Mr Naresh Gurnani of Travelocity.
However, with full-service airlines like Jet Airways selling nearly 75 per cent of its seats at low-cost fares, the number of business class seats on domestic flights has reduced considerably in the recent past.
“For corporate flyers, the timing of the flight is crucial. After the Kingfisher flight cancellation crisis unfolded, the business class fare for prime time flights has shot up. It is difficult to get a business class ticket at the eleventh hour on Jet Airways during peak hours. And even if one gets a ticket, one has to pay a very high business class fare,” said a travel agent from South Mumbai.
There is a scramble for business class seats with several corporate flyers settling for premium seats available on low-cost carriers for their reliability. Travel agents said that though business class seats are available on Kingfisher, “there are barely any takers because of the uncertainty brought about by the latest flight cancellations.”
Kingfisher has scrapped several flights over the last four days, leaving passengers in a quandary. At least 20 flights were cancelled on Wednesday by the airline. Only 28 of its fleet of 64 registered aircraft are in operation with many of its planes have being reclaimed by lessors or awaiting spare parts.
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