Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, May 16: Following in the footsteps of budget airline, SpiceJet, IndiGo too is learnt to have sensed the opportunity to tap long haul flights market in which business class travel would be provided at a reduced rate as compared to other competitors. It is said to be thinking in terms of introducing long flights to destinations in European and Asian countries. Going by what Ronojoy Dutta, chief executive officer of the airline, revealed in an interview last week, the airline may begin trips to farther destinations in Europe within about six months time.

IndiGo has succeeded in cornering a big chunk of the market in the country within about a decade since it began operations. Cheap air fares and promptness in operating the flights have enabled the airline to succeed. Dutta said in the interview that passengers get tired with long range flights and that they use washrooms often and tend to seek food. He said the airline is considering the option of introducing snacks and business class in its long flights.

Airlines like Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Emirates and Singapore Airlines have so far dominated the flights between Asia and Europe. IndiGo will also have to take cue from the experiences of airlines that had tried the low cost long haul flights but did not succeed. Budget airlines like Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, which had operated such flight, had accumulated losses. Air Asia which had introduced flight services to London has now primarily focused on Asian destinations. Budget service under Singapore Airlines named Scoot has been operating long flights to Athens and Berlin and it has business class too.

So far IndiGo has not come out with details of what it means by business class. Pricing is an important aspect and rising fuel bills will potentially bog down the airlines efforts to keep the fares low. It is said to be in talks with Airbus to acquire its newest narrow body jet as it plans to operate direct or one-stop flights to London, China, Vietnam, Myanmar and Russia.