100% passenger load factor on India-UK segment


MUMBAI, SEPT 7: Airlines flying in the India-UK segment have registered a 30% increase in the passenger load factor this season, starting August 2005. Passenger load factor in this sector for Indian as well as British carriers increased from 70% to 100%, primarily owing to an increase in student travel to the UK from India.

According to the British Council in Mumbai, the number of students from India wanting to study in the UK has gone up by 20% this year, compared to that of the previous year.

British Airways offers 19 flights a week with each flight carrying 375 passengers, while BMI, formerly known as British Midland, flies four flights a week in the Mumbai-Heathrow (London) route with a capacity of 244 seats.

Air-India operates 24 flights a week with a capacity of about 400 passengers, and domestic carrier Jet Airways, which started its London operations on May 23 this year, flies seven flights a week with a capacity of 269 seats.

All these airlines have confirmed to FE that they are operating with a 100% load factor currently.

Carriers are in fact offering concessional fares and incentives to students. “The normal economy class fares excluding taxes is Rs 19,000 and students are offered a concession on that. The student’s fare is Rs 15,000 (excluding taxes). Further, students are allowed to carry an additional 15 kg baggage with them,” said an Air-India official.

To claim these incentives, students are required to produce a proof of admission to a UK University at the time of buying the ticket. The scenario is the same with the India-US route. Delta Air Lines which operates to major US cities, is flying with a 100% load factor. The airline operates 14 flights a week in the India-US route. Air-India, on the other hand is also operating with a 100% passenger load factor in this route.

- The Financial Express -