Tag Archives: airlines

IATA: November passenger demand rises 8.1%

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released November 2024 global passenger demand data, showing an 8.1% year-on-year increase in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK). Capacity grew by 5.7%, and the load factor reached a record 83.4% (+1.9 percentage points).

International demand rose 11.6% compared to November 2023, with capacity up by 8.6% and a load factor of 83.4% (+2.3 ppt). Strong growth was driven by carriers in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Domestic demand increased by 3.1%, with a capacity rise of 1.5% and a load factor of 83.5% (+1.2 ppt).

IATA Director General Willie Walsh highlighted robust growth but noted supply chain issues delaying aircraft deliveries, hindering airlines’ ability to meet rising demand. He called for urgent solutions from aerospace manufacturers to address these challenges.

Asia-Pacific airlines led international demand growth with a 19.9% year-on-year increase, followed by African airlines at 12.4% and Latin American carriers at 11.4%. European carriers recorded a 9.4% rise, while the Middle East saw an 8.7% increase. North America experienced more modest growth at 3.1%.

Domestically, India saw the highest RPK growth at 13.3%, followed by China at 10.5%, and Brazil at 9.6%. The US domestic market contracted by 2.7%, reflecting a decline in low-cost carrier activity.

Cathay Group surpasses 100,000-passenger milestone on a single day

The Cathay Group has achieved a significant milestone by carrying more than 100,000 passengers, the most on a single day since the start of its rebuild.

On December 15, 2024, Cathay Pacific and HK Express, the Group’s two passenger airlines, carried a combined total of 100,856 passengers, surpassing the 100,000-passenger mark on a single day.

Since the milestone was first reached, the Group exceeded the 100,000-passenger mark on a total of eight days during the year-end travel peak ending December 31, 2024.

Ronald Lam, CEO, Cathay Pacific Group, said, “We are thrilled to have concluded the year 2024 on a high note with yet another milestone. The past year saw unprecedented progress and expansion for the Cathay Group, thanks to our people’s dedication and efforts. In particular, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our global front line teams, who have been working tirelessly over the holiday period to ensure that our customers enjoy a smooth journey as they explore new destinations or reunite with their friends and families during the holidays.

“We are pleased to have successfully completed our two-year rebuilding journey, during which we were firmly focused on adding more flights and destinations for our customers and our home hub. A new chapter has now begun for Cathay.”

Cathay Pacific recently resumed its seasonal service to Cairns, Australia and will be launching several long-haul routes in 2025, including Hyderabad in India, Dallas in the United States, and Munich and Brussels in Europe. In addition, HK Express added Shizuoka, Japan to its network recently and will be launching a new service to Sendai, Japan later this month.

Together as a Group, Cathay Pacific and HK Express have reached 100% of pre-pandemic flights from January 2025. It is projected that the two airlines will operate passenger services to 100 destinations around the world within 2025, marking another meaningful milestone for the Cathay Group.

With the commissioning of the Three-Runway System, Hong Kong has entered an exciting new era. As the city’s home airline, Cathay will continue to contribute to Hong Kong’s status as a world-leading international aviation hub, connecting Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the world.

The Chandigarh Airport is the gateway to Punjab and Haryana.

Operations of flights purely a commercial decision by airlines, Centre in reply to HC

In response to a Punjab and Haryana High Court question on why there are just two international flights from the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali, the Centre has said that it does not interfere in commercial operations of airlines and that the airlines are free to choose markets and destinations within the ambit of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) between India and another country, reports The Hindustan Times.

“Commercial operations of airlines are deregulated, and the Government does not regulate or interfere with the operational plans of the airlines. Accordingly, the airlines are free to select whatever markets and networks they wish to service and operate within the ambit of BASA (based on which seat capacity etc. is decided),” an affidavit by V Vualnam, secretary, ministry of civil aviation, Government of India, stated.

“There is also no explanation from the Chandigarh International Airport Authority Limited as to why there are only two international flights from Chandigarh (UT and capital of two prosperous states) on a daily basis… It is unfortunate to note that even a district headquarter like Amritsar has more than 14 international flights to various countries,” the court had observed while seeking affidavit from the Aviation Secretary.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), pending since December 2015, when it was approached by the Mohali Industries Association, alleging lack of facilities at the airport. Since then, the HC has been monitoring the progress of various projects at the airport.

Inaugurated on September 15, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new terminal has been built at an estimated cost of INR 1,400 crore. While initially, there were only 40-odd flights, the number has now gone up to 90, including two to international destinations — Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The Hon’able court may also kindly note than any operation of the international flight from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of the airline on the basis of the economic viability of the route, traffic demand, slot availability and other associated factors,” the aviation secretary said, adding that India has open sky arrangements for bilateral air services with a number of countries including USA and UK, whereby foreign designated carriers may operate to/ from any point in India, which includes Chandigarh.

As per the officer, Indian carriers were asked about plans to start international flights from Chandigarh, but the airlines responded in the negative. The airlines told the Centre that they do not have any immediate plans to add any more international flights to/from Chandigarh in addition to the existing operational international schedule but would evaluate feasibility in the future.

On the issue of steps taken by it for increasing international flights, the Punjab government has said that it had requested Centre in 2019 to include Chandigarh in the list of cities covered under Open Sky Policy for Airlines from ASEAN countries, which liberalises travel to the notified cities without restriction of reciprocatory/ or the need for bi-lateral agreements. However, the Centre has not included the Chandigarh airport in that list. Follow-up letters were also written but the Centre has not yielded.

In one of the letters written in 2022, on the issue in response to the demand raised by the state government in that year, the Centre told the state government that India has an open sky agreement with the United Kingdom, which permits designated carriers to operate seven services per week to and from any non-metro airport and Chandigarh is also in the list of such airports. In the same letter, the Centre also said that Chandigarh is not available as a point of call for Canada and thus, Canadian carriers cannot operate direct flights to and from Chandigarh, the affidavit from Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Secretary, Department of Civil Aviation, said. (Source: Hindustan Times)

 

India mandates airlines to share passenger data starting April 1

 

Starting April 1, 2025, airlines operating international flights to and from India must share detailed passenger information with customs authorities, as per a directive issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

The regulation, stemming from the ‘Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022,’ requires airlines to register with the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC-Pax) by January 10, 2025. Carriers must submit passenger data, including names, payment details, contact information, and travel itineraries, 24 hours before departure. The initiative aims to enhance risk analysis and border security measures.

A pilot phase, involving select volunteer airlines, will run until February 10, 2025. Full implementation will follow in phases: individual airlines from April 1, 2025, and airlines using global distribution systems (GDS) from June 1, 2025. Non-compliance could result in penalties ranging from INR 25,000 to INR 50,000 per violation.

This move aligns India’s customs framework with international practices, improving border security and modernising customs processes. It underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging advanced data analytics for enhanced interdiction and risk management capabilities.

Indian Airlines See 12% Rise in Domestic Passengers, Carrying 1.42 Crore in November

Indian airlines carried 1.42 crore passengers on domestic routes in November, marking an increase of nearly 12% compared to the same month last year, driven by rising air traffic demand. IndiGo led the market with a 63.6% share, followed by Air India at 24.4%, Akasa Air with 4.7%, and SpiceJet at 3.1%. While all these carriers saw their market shares grow, Alliance Air’s share remained steady at 0.7% in November, according to the latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The DGCA reported that from January to November 2024, domestic airlines carried 1,464.02 lakh passengers, up from 1,382.34 lakh during the same period in 2023, reflecting a growth of 5.91% year-over-year and 11.90% month-over-month. Domestic air traffic reached 142.52 lakh passengers in November, compared to 127.36 lakh in the same month the previous year. In October 2024, the number was 1.36 crore.
However, the On-Time Performance (OTP) of scheduled domestic airlines, measured at major metro airports in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, declined in November.

Shashi Tharoor criticizes high airfares

 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called on Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to address the issue of exorbitant airfares charged by airlines. Responding to a tweet by Sam Kuriakose, who highlighted inflated ticket prices, Tharoor expressed concern over the financial burden placed on travellers. His appeal reflects growing public frustration over the lack of regulation in airfare pricing.

Several citizens joined the conversation on social media, accusing airlines of exploiting the situation, particularly during peak travel seasons. Complaints ranged from sudden fare hikes to a lack of transparency in pricing. Despite widespread outrage, no official response or action has been taken by aviation authorities or airline operators as of now.

Tharoor emphasised the need for stricter government oversight and regulatory measures to ensure fair pricing. He argued that air travel, which is often a necessity rather than a luxury, should remain accessible to the average citizen. His statement resonated with travellers across the country, who continue to face high airfares with limited alternatives.

The issue of inflated airfares is not new, but Tharoor’s intervention has reignited the debate on the need for more stringent consumer protection in India’s aviation sector. The growing pressure from both citizens and public figures may push authorities to implement reforms to curb exploitative practices and promote affordable air travel.