NEW DELHI: Indian carriers’ combined aircraft capacity is now back to pre-Jet Airways’ closure days, thanks to other airlines adding capacity quickly and adding flights on slots that suddenly became available at otherwise infra-starved desi airports. Aviation secretary P S Kharola Thursday said last August (when Jet was still flying) schedule Indian airlines had 570 planes in their fleet.
“This number in August 2019, is at 600 despite the 110-aircraft-strong Jet not operational. Fares are showing a declining trend (after the sharp rise in few months after Jet’s demise in April). But the test of fare levels will be from the end of this month when the festive and peak travel season kicks in,” he said.
The ministry has now extended the slots of Jet at Indian airports and its flying rights for foreign destinations given to other Indian carriers for the coming winter season, which means till next March-end.
