The civil aviation industry in India is on a high-growth trajectory. By 2020 India aims to become the third-largest player in the aviation market. Driven by modern airports, low-cost carriers, advanced information technology, and FDI in domestic airlines, the civil aviation industry in our country is moving towards a major boom. Interestingly, India is the ninth largest civil aviation market in the world with market size of approximately US$16 billion. According to predictions of IATA (International Air Transport Association), India’s air passenger traffic will grow to 378 million by 2034. International airlines and domestic airlines are both vying to woo the Indian traveller today.
A sharp rise in the number of travellers
In January 2016 the domestic air passenger traffic rose by 23%. A survey conducted by Nielsen has revealed that 12% of business travel in the country takes place for conferences, events and meetings. Frequency of leisure trips is high among those aged 26 to 30 years. They claim to travel at least once in six months for personal reasons. Nearly half of those travelling with families are also young, aged between 25 to 35 years. Indians love vacations and organized and planned tours are not uncommon.
Further infrastructure improvements have fueled the robust growth in the Indian airline industry. Old airports are getting a facelift, low-cost carriers are a convenient choice, several green-field airports have come up which have made several regions more accessible.
Domestic airlines operating in India
For most travelers, the key parameter to choosing an airlines is the value for money which they get in return. A look at domestic flights which operate within India:
Indigo Airlines: Ranked in the first position it is one of the fastest growing airlines in India. The fleet size of the Indigo airlines is close to 86 aircraft which serves close to 5 million passengers. This privately owned airline started its operations in 2006 and at present, it has the largest market share which is close to 40%. Indigo Airlines is considered as India’s best low-cost carrier. Although the fares are low, the airline has not compromised on safety, punctuality or customer service. It promises value for money. The airline offers web check-in, that allows travellers to select the seat, choose meal options and print the boarding pass directly from the computer. The airline web check-in speeds up the check-in process and reduces waiting time at the airport.
Indigo Flight Status | Indigo Web Checkin
Vistara: A new domestic carrier, Vistara made its debut in 2014. It is a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and India’s Tata Sons. It is a full-service airline where passengers will not have to pay for food or water inside the airline. Seats in Vistara offer sufficient legroom and recline more than its competitors. It operates across 10 destinations in India.
Vistara Flight Status | Vistara Web Checkin
Go Air: Go Air is a privately owned low-cost airline which started its operations in late 2005. The fleet of 19 aeroplanes operates in over 20 destinations. It offers connectivity to a few remote destinations which include Srinagar, Guwahati and Jammu. If you decide to travel by Go Air you can avail cheap flight tickets.
Go Air Flight Status | Go Air Web Checkin
Air India: This is a Mumbai based full-service airline which is owned by the Indian government. Air India has a fleet of 108 aircraft it has well-planned routes and flight schedule. It is reliable, has comfortable seats and offers adequate legroom to travelers.
Air Indi Flight Status | Air India Web Checkin
SpiceJet Airlines: Based in Delhi, Indigo is a privately owned, low-cost carrier which has been operating since mid-2005. It operates 293 daily flights to 40 destinations which include 34 Indian and 6 international destinations. Although SpiceJet does not provide complimentary meals on any of its flights, it does offer the choice of buying onboard in-flight meals. It offers premium services where passengers can avail benefits like priority baggage handling, priority check-in at a higher fare and pre-assigned seat.
SpiceJet Flight Status | SpiceJet Web Checkin
Jet Airways: Established on 1st April 1992 Jet Airways is the second largest airline in India. It is recognized as one of India’s well-known and reliable carriers. Jet Airways has a fleet of 115 aircraft and has won many awards for the top-notch service which it provides. The airline is popular owing to its flawless in-flight service and punctuality. It is known to mostly adhere to its flight schedule. Further the efficient staff ensure that your journey is comfortable. This premier international airline is based in Mumbai and connects most of the major Indian cities.
Jet Airways PNR Status | Jet Airways Web Checkin
List of some popular International Airlines -
Domestic Airlines FAQs:
Q. Can I request special in-flight meals with a domestic airline?
A. Yes, you can, most
domestic airlines offer special in-flight meals to its passengers. At the time of booking your flight, you can select your meal preferences. If you have not selected your meal menu yet, you can do so up to 24 hours ahead of departure time. Many domestic airlines provide its customers with the option of choosing between vegetarian/non-vegetarian meal. Passengers can request for special meals like a Jain meal, religious meals, diabetic meals, gluten-free meal, baby meal, allergen meal etc.
Q. Who can do web check-in for a flight with a domestic airline?
A. Any passenger having a confirmed ticket of their chosen airline operated flight can avail web check-in facility. However, customers those who have a reservation for any special requests such as a wheelchair, stretcher, extra seats, or medical passenger cannot make use of this facility. Also, unaccompanied minors, bookings made under concessional discounts (student, senior citizen, Indian Armed Force Personnel and friends and family) and group travellers of nine or more people made under a single booking cannot avail the web check-in facility.
The web check-in facility allows passengers to print their boarding pass in advance. If you have checked-in through web, but have bags to check-in, you should report sufficiently in advance before check-in closure at airports. And if you are not carrying any luggage, you can proceed directly to the security checkpoint for verification before moving to the boarding gate.
You can contact your chosen airline for any further assistance on web check-in service.
Q. How early should I reach the airport for my domestic flight?
A. Recommended reporting time for domestic flights is 75 minutes before departure. For
domestic flights, counter closes 45 minutes prior to departure. Counters for domestic flights operating from international terminals of the airport closes 60 minutes before takeoff. However, it is advised that passengers report to the check-in counters at airports early preferably two-three hours before their scheduled departure for a smooth passage. You can check with your airline for further information on their check-in timelines depending on the flight you have booked.
Q. How to do mobile check-in on a domestic airline?
A. To do mobile check-in on a flight, you must download your preferred domestic airline's 'App' on your mobile device and register yourself (with certain domestic airlines registration is not necessary and just holding a confirmed booking with an e-ticket will allow you to log into their App and carry out mobile check-in). You can also select your choice of seat, email or print e-boarding pass through this facility. Airlines recommend passengers to take a print copy of their boarding pass once they have completed their mobile check-in and suggest carrying it to the airport to avoid standing in line. You can do mobile check-in from 48 hours to 90 minutes before your flight departs, depending on the airline.
Q. How much baggage is allowed on a domestic flight?
A. The terms and conditions of baggage allowance may vary depending on the individual airline. Domestic airlines allow check-in baggage of up to 15 kg per passenger for all domestic flight bookings. Whereas, a hand/cabin baggage should not exceed more than 7 kg for an individual. Passengers travelling with an infant is allowed to carry an extra piece of hand baggage weighing not more than 7 kg that can carry baby food, baby feeding equipment, etc. Baggage permittance with certain airline also depends on the class of travel on their flight. For more information on the baggage allowance policy with your preferred flight, you can contact the airlines.
