Budget airline plan by Air India rapped
By Anjana Sankar
23 December 2004 / Khaleej Times
ABU DHABI � Air India�s plan to introduce a budget airline is drawing flak from the community members who argue that the move has more demerits than merits.
Responding to the long-time demand of Indian expatriates, Air India had earlier this month announced the launch of their low-cost airline under the name Air India Express, which will start operation in March from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat to three international airports in Kerala.
Even with a proposed 25 per cent slash on the fairs, passengers are of the opinion that they will end up paying the same amount as now since the baggage allowance in the new flights is reduced to 30kg against the existing 50kg. Coughing up Dh35 for each extra kg, the passenger will have to pay extra Dh700 on baggage alone. In addition, Air India has also plans to restrict the hand baggage to mere 5kg, according to sources.
There is yet another hitch in that passengers can avail of the reduced rates only if the bookings are made well in advance and it seems heavy fines will be levied on cancellations.
It has also been said that the seating capacity in the new Boeing 737 aircraft will be much lesser when compared to Airbus 310, which is presently used by Air India. And also the frequency of flights to Kerala sector of 14 per week with a total capacity of 4,500 passengers will likely be reduced to nine flights per week with Air India Express.
Adding to the passengers� inconvenience is the condition that requires the passengers to make online bookings, that through selected travel agencies. In addition, all the bookings should be paid through credit cards. The lower income class will be worst affected by the rule as a majority of the expatriate community who will avail of the facility are not computer literates and do not hold credit cards.
Yet another disadvantage of Air India Express as pointed out by many is that it will not airlift dead bodies and emergency patients for lack of facilities to accommodate stretchers and coffins.
A group of social workers who recently held a meeting here in Abu Dhabi to discuss the issue have also highlighted the casualty that will affect the cargo send from Kerala. According to them with the introduction of Express flights, there will be a 90 per cent slash on the total amount of vegetables and meat items carried from Kerala due to pay load restrictions letting the prices to skyrocket. While the existing Airbus 310 can carry a total of 30,000 tonnes including passengers, the new Boeing 737�s capacity is a mere 9,000 tonnes.
According to them, Air India should implement the budget-airline concept with the same aircraft that are in use if it has to benefit the expatriates.
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