Khaleej Times
MANAMA , Mar 27: Air India Express, a budget airline with all economy class seats, may reduce fares further between Bahrain and its India destinations from the beginning of April.
Air India Express launched its low-cost service on Sunday with the inaugural flight coming from Mangalore via Doha and returning the same way.
When asked by Khaleej Times to comment on why only about 20 per cent reduction on the previous normal fares of Air India for the same destinations compared with full on-board service other airlines are offering, he agreed that a lot of passengers were very upset with the fares we are currently charging because they expected them to be much lower than the other competing airlines that are offering full on-board service.
He said many had come to our booking office here, but left without booking, expressing their dismay. “We have brought this reaction to the attention of the Head Office,” he said.
“If they consider this issue and reduce fares further, it could be from April 1, but it all depends on their decision,” he said.
Air India, which had its strong presence in Bahrain since 1960, will no more be there with the introduction of Air India Express. T
But on the price front, in general, many people have pointed out to us that they found Air India Express fares are comparatively higher than some other airlines that offer full on-board service, and with this even our regular and loyal customers are asking us why they should pay that much and sacrifice the services offered by others, such as food and comfortable baggage allowance facilities as well as, in certain cases, more convenient connections.
“We have completely lost our Business Class customers with the inception of the new service, and that will result in losing more of Economy Class customers as well in the long run,” he bemoaned.
Explaining the new operational flight pattern, Debesh said that there will be four flights to Mumbai, five flights to Kerala (serving Cochin four times, Calicut three times and Trivandrum once a week), and two to Mangalore, adding with a cheerful note, he said that the 11th flight will serve Cochin and will commence on April 1, ahead of previously planned for April 26.