In the recent development of events, Indigo has announced the launch of six new domestic flights under its wings. These new flights will be connecting the city of Indore to Jodhpur, Surat, and Allahabad. Flights have started their operations on Sunday and will be operating every day. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia flagged the approval of these flights virtually.
The Expanding Competition in Domestic Network
The Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer of Indigo Sanjay Kumar said in a statement that the launch of these new flights will provide direct connectivity from Indore, the largest city in Madhya Pradesh, to the political, tourist, and business centers in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. This will provide supply to the rising travel demands from these regions and would help in promoting trade, tourism, and mobility.
Currently, Indigo controls the majority of the Indian domestic market and controls the operations of 604 of its flights from Madhya Pradesh alone. But as the aviation industry looks to expand in the foreseeable future with TATA acquiring AIR India, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala coming with his own airline Akasa next year, and the revival of Jet Airways in the coming future, Indigo must be looking to expand its network.
Earlier this month the Chief Executive Officer of Indigo, Ronojoy Dutta said in a statement that they will be looking to expand their global network as well. He talked about how the acquisition of AIR India by a private player now makes them a formidable competition for Indigo. He anticipated the rise in competition in the domestic market after AIR India begins its operations without any financial burden.
On the other hand, Akasa being launched next year is expected to be a low-cost carrier and is expected to up the competition in the domestic territory. Even one of the cofounders of Akasa is Aditya Ghosh who had worked with Indigo for around a decade and is credited for the success of the airline. However, Ronojoy Dutta said that it would take a few years for Akasa before it becomes a tough competition.
