Photo: Pradeep Gaur/MintMumbai: The launch of low-cost, long-haul flights by Indian airlines will boost outbound leisure travel and open a multi-billion dollar opportunity for carriers, a report released on Wednesday showed. Most Indians travel for education, business or to visit friends and relatives. “If there is any market where low-cost, long-haul can work it is India,” CAPA India chief executive officer Kapil Kaul said at an aviation conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, citing its geographic location and a large order pipeline for new long-range narrowbody jets. The low-cost flights would compete against full-service Indian carriers Air India and Jet Airways as well as global rivals such as Emirates and Lufthansa. Low-cost carriers AirAsia India and Vistara, a full-service joint venture between Singapore Airlines and India’s Tata Group, are expected to launch their first international flights later this year.

Source: Mint January 31, 2018 05:15 UTC