The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Competition is in the air

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Competition is in the air

T.S. Shankar

Paramount's Chennai-Delhi service has triggered a price war With more players like Go Air and Indigo waiting in the wings, Chennai airport is poised to become busier than ever

CHENNAI: With the introduction of a daily non-stop service between Chennai and Delhi by Paramount Airways, fierce competition is on the cards, triggering a price war on the sector.

Air passengers will not only have more options but can also travel in "business class" comfort on economy class fare. Paramount Airways' 70-seater Embraer jets are "all business class."

N.R. Kumaraswamy, chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), southern region, said Paramount Airways would target the spillover traffic of the second flights operated by Indian and Jet Airways.

"We are happy that the new entrant had a discussion with the travel trade before beginning operations."

M. Thiagarajan, managing director of Paramount Airways, told The Hindu that the airline had temporarily suspended services to Kochi. It provided mid-day arrival flights to the capital on a promotional fare of Rs. 5,999.

"The timing of the Chennai-Delhi-Chennai long haul flight has been positioned to cater for businessmen returning to Chennai the same day."

Night shuttle planned

The airline is planning to introduce a night shuttle between Chennai and Bangalore in the first week of January. Paramount Airways becomes the sixth operator to fly directly to Delhi with Indian (Airlines), Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, and Spice Jet.

D. Sudhakara Reddy, president of Air Passengers' Association of India (APAI), said as a consumer organisation the APAI welcomed the introduction of the flight as a sign of healthy competition.

Chennai Airport Director S. Subramanian said it was heartening to note that more domestic and international operators are coming to Chennai.

With more players like Go Air and Indigo waiting in the wings, the Chennai airport is poised to become busier than ever.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu