Low cost carrier IndiGo, Jet Airways and its no-frills arm JetKonnect charged an average of about 10-15% higher fares than other airlines in July, according to analysis of fares done by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
However, what is surprising is that the higher fares charged by these three airlines was in contrast to overall fall in air tariffs during July compared to those in June.
According to DGCA data, fares dropped in 37 out of 48 sectors, mostly to non-metro Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The analysis, however, does not include major trunk routes on which the airlines have most flights and carry most of their passengers.
While the highest fall in fares was recorded on Delhi-Gorakhpur route by Rs 6.3 a km, the highest increase was averaged at Rs 2.1 per km on Mumbai-Nanded sector. On Delhi-Dibrugarh route, IndiGo charged Rs 9,425 as the average one-way fare compared with the industry average of Rs 8,361, while its average fare on Delhi-Dabolim route was Rs 7,836 compared with the industry average of Rs 7,625. Jet Airways charged Rs 12,001 and JetKonnect Rs 12,621 on Leh-Delhi sector, compared to the industry average of ` 11,013. The Air India fare on this route was Rs 10,948.
IndiGo commanded 27% share of the domestic market share in July. It also managed to fill its aircraft the most. The only other airline which reported seat factor of over 70 per cent was JetLite with 71.7 per cent.