Lok Sabha Question No. 1257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Operation of Air India Express Flights
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

(To be answered on the 9rn February 2017)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO': 1257

## OPERATION OF AIR INDIA EXPRESS FLIGHTS

1257.  DR.C.GOPALAKRISHNAN

Will the Mlnlster  of CIVIL AVIATION ffiIIftffidJi*

be pleased to state:-

- (s) the detrits of domestic  and international  flights operated by Air Indie Express especially to USA;
- @)  whether operational  cost of flights on some ofthe routes  is too high;
- (c)  if so, the details  thereof and losses incurred  by Air India Express  on such ioGi arting the last three years, year-rvise;  and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to enhance the profit of Air India Express?

## ANSWER

Minister  of State in the Ministry  of CIVIL AVIATION -mptr*ix;ra  jirmdff

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (el:  Air Indla  (AI) Express does not have any operations  to USA' The details ;71;;i;Hd inteinationat operations  bf AI Express are attached as Annexure  I.
- (b):  The unit cost of operation of all the flights operated  by AI Express are -6."  o" Iess the same with none being too high'
- (c): In the past 3 years, the details of the routes that did not meet operating cost ar€ as below :-

## FY 2013-14

1. Chennai - Kuala LumPur  - Chennai
2. Lucknow - Dubai - Lucknow
3. Trivandrum - Sharjah  '  Trivandrum
4. Trivandrum - Dubai - Trivandrum
6. Chennai  - Trichy - Singapore w
6. 5, Kozhikode - Kuwait - Kozhikode
7. Kochi - Mangalore  - Kuwait rry
8. Chennai  - Colombo-Chennai

## FY 2014-15

Based on the detalls of loss making routes in 2013-14,, following corrective actions  had been taken :-

1. Chennai - Colombo - Chennai flight was withdrawn
2. Kochi - Mangalore - Kuwait w flight was restructured  to operate thrice weekly Mangalore - Bahrain - Kuwait-Mangalore.  Kochi passengers  wer€ given a suitable connection  over Kozhikode.

As a result, all the flights  met the operating cost and were profitable.

## FY 2015-16

AII the flights were prolitable except Chennai - Kuala Lumpur - Chennai. The main reason was due to low yields as the fares were very low to meet the competitive pressure.  The route continued to make losses in FY 2016-17 as well. Hence, effective from l5th Feb 2017, the flight has beetr withdrrwn,

- (d): The steps taken to enhance AI Express profits are as below:-
- i) The aircraft  utilization has been increased from 8.5 hrs three years ago to 12.S hrs per day per rircraft, which is comparable  to the best ln the industry.
- 3 years has been increased  and is comparable to the best in the industry.
- ii) The productivity  / utilization  of cabin crew and cockpit crew over the past
- iii) The Schedule Reliability  has been increased  to the level of 99.9%. The On Time Performance  has been increased to the level of around 80-85%,
- iv) With the focussed  pricing and inventory management,  the operating revenue has increased  trom 2364 Cr in 2013-14 to 2916 Cr. in 2015-16.The revenue increase  oI 23Yo is achieved with a reduced fleet of 17 aircraft in 2015-16, whereas  in 2013-14 the aircraft fleet strength was 21.

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|             | AIR INDIA EXPRESS OPERATIONS                               |    |
|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------|----|
| Desllnotlon |                                                            |    |
| DUBAI       | Kozhikode - Duboivv                                        | t4 |
|             | Kochi- Duboivv                                             | 7  |
|             | Ihiruvononthopurom -D!boi vv                               |    |
|             | MonOolore -Duboi w                                         | l4 |
|             | irichy -Duboivv                                            |    |
|             | Pune -Duboiw                                               | 3  |
|             | Amrilsor -Duboivv                                          | 7  |
|             | Lucknow - Duboi vv                                         |    |
|             | Joipur - Duboivv                                           |    |
|             | Mumboi- Duboivv                                            |    |
|             | Delhi- Duboiw                                              | 7  |
|             | TOTAL                                                      | 83 |
| SHARJAII    | Kozhikode - Shorioh w                                      | 7  |
|             | Kochi-Shorioh vv                                           | 7  |
|             | Ihituvononlhopurom-Shorjoh w                               | 3  |
|             | Mumboi-Shorioh vv                                          |    |
|             | frichy - Shorioh vv                                        | l  |
|             | Chondioorh-Shorioh vv                                      | 3  |
|             | Voronosi-Shoioh vv                                         | 1  |
|             | IOTAL                                                      | 41 |
| A8U DHABI   | Kozhikodo-Abu Dhobi w                                      | 7  |
|             | Kochi-Abu Dhobi w                                          |    |
|             | Thkuvononlhopurom-Abu Dhobi vv                             | 7  |
|             | Mongolore-Abu Dhoblw                                       |    |
|             | Delhi-Abu Dhobivv                                          | 7  |
|             | TOTAL                                                      |    |
| MUSCAI      | Kozhikode-Muscol vv                                        | 7  |
|             | Thlruvononlhopurorn-Muscol vv                              | 5  |
|             | Kochi Muscoi vv                                            | 6  |
|             | Mongolor6-Muscol Yv                                        | 3  |
|             | TOTAL                                                      | 21 |
| SALATAH     | Kozhikode-Sololoh-Kozhikode                                | I  |
|             | KOChFthrruvonontnopurom-sototoh-Kocha- Thiruvononlhopurorn | l  |
|             | TOTAL                                                      | 2  |
| KHAIMAH     | Kozhikode-Al Ain-Ros Al Khoimoh-Kozhikode                  | 2  |
|             | Kozhikode-Ros Al Khoimoh-Al Ain-Kozhikode                  | 2  |
|             | TOTAL                                                      | 4  |

## ANNEXURE.I

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| SAHRAIN                   | Kochi-Kozhikode-Bohroin w            |     |                              |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----|------------------------------|
|                           | TOTAT                                | 7   |                              |
| BAHRAIII/XUWAIT           | Mongolore-Eohroin-Kuwoit-Mongolore   | 3   |                              |
|                           | IOTAI                                | 3   |                              |
| DOHA                      | Mumboi-Doho vv                       |     |                              |
|                           | Mongoloro-Doho vv                    | 3   |                              |
|                           | Thiruvononthopurom-Kozhikode-Doho vv | /   |                              |
|                           | TOTAt.                               | 14  |                              |
| KUALA I.UMPUR             | Chennoi- Kuolo Lumpur                | 4   | Withdrawn Eff. 15th Feb 2017 |
| SINGAPORE                 | Tdchv-Sinoooore w                    | 1   |                              |
|                           | Chennoi-Sinoooor€ vv                 | 7   |                              |
|                           | Kolkolto - Sinqopore vv              |     |                              |
|                           | IOTAL                                | t8  |                              |
|                           | Kozhikode-Dommorn vv                 |     |                              |
|                           | Monoolore-Domrnom vv                 | 3   |                              |
|                           | TOIAL                                | 7   |                              |
| KUWAIT                    | Kozhikode-Kuwoii vv                  | 5   |                              |
|                           | IOTAT                                | 5   |                              |
| DHAKA                     | Delhi-Dhoko vv                       |     | Eff. 15 Feb 2017             |
|                           | Kolkollo - Dhoko vv                  | 4   |                              |
|                           | TOTAI                                | I   |                              |
| RIYAOH                    | Kozhikode-Riyodh vv                  | 5   |                              |
|                           | TOTAL                                | 5   |                              |
| su8 Torar. 0NTERNAIIoNAL) | su8 Torar. 0NTERNAIIoNAL)            | 254 |                              |
| oerlinollon               | Roule                                |     |                              |
|                           | chennoi-lhituvononlhoourom vv        |     |                              |
|                           | Trichy - Thiruvononthopurom          | l   | Eff. 15 Feb 2017             |
| {DOMESTIC}                |                                      | 2   |                              |
| GRAND                     | TOTAT                                | 256 |                              |