[sadhuji]

I was checking the low fare for a flight to Kolkata by one of the low cost airlines – I planned to travel in August and, given a lead time of two months, I expected a fare in the region of 500 rupees or so given the mandatory taxes. I was surprised to discover that the cost inclusive of taxes was in the region of two thousand and five rupees! When one considers that there would be no snacks served in the flight, that one would not get any transport to go from the waiting lounge to the aircraft parked on the tarmac but would have to walk, that there could be delays, and that the flight could even be cancelled, it was not advisable to plan a trip of this nature. The same amount of money could get me a comfortable journey in an air conditioned coach in the railways – the railways have made their point, thanks to Laloo-ji. That there is a railway halt in the village of his wife Rabri-devi where trains have to halt even though it is no official halt is a different matter. A TV news channel showed that the board was being uprooted – in case the lady returns to the folds of Bihar politics, the board might get reinstalled.

Coming back to low cost airlines, with so many of them in the fray, the likelihood of all of them flying always to full capacity is remote. Therefore, a situation might come when they would begin pooling their resources – if you buy a ticket of one airline, you might be accommodated in another. The practice is common in Bangalore – the bus operators never begin the journey with even one vacant seat. It is sound business sense and could be extended to the flying sector as well. Or – the trip from Mumbai to Kolkata could, in the last moment, be diverted via Nagpur, Lucknow and Patna to cater to passengers of that route. Or – you might have to wait till last minute reservations are made to improve the occupancy factor.