LCCs becoming first choice for Indians
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Cheap tickets and promotional discounts have made low-cost carriers (LCCs) the first choice of most Indian flyers, a report in Times of India said.Tour operators were quoted saying that many of their clients had shifted to LCCs because of low fares and many companies had tied up with such airlines to fly delegates because of their better on-time performance (OTP). That LCCs have steadily expanded their network has only helped them increase their clientele base, the report said. A travel agent was quoted saying that these airlines had also started operations to many tier II cities to reach more people. “Even those who were loyal to Air India or other FSCs (full service carriers)changed their preferences because they couldn’t resist the temptation of cheap fares. Now, even as LCC fares are rising, people prefer them because of their higher OTP.” “Almost 30% of FSC loyalists have moved over to LCCs as the quality of service in budget carriers has improved dramatically in the last two years,” he was reported saying. About companies tying up with LCCs to fly delegations, Rajesh Rateria , managing director, Cirrus Travels, was quoted saying: “They have internal arrangements that include their employees being served meals on board. The entire deal works out cheaper than what a company would have to pay for flying a delegation on an FSC. “When it comes to a one- or two-hour flight, food on board is not a priority . The option of buying food is always there. Hence, even for people who would normally take an FSC, LCCs have become the first choice.” He added that network expansion by LCCs, too, have made many flyers shift preferences. “Now, LCCs cover both metros and small cities. So, they score over FSCs. Many of my clients have moved over to LCCs due to obvious benefits.”
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