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The year ’06 may well mark a new high for international low cost airlines
flying into India. Singapore-based Jetstar Asia will fly
Bangalore-Singapore
five-times a week with an introductory fare of Rs 6,000 from January 23,
’06, while stepping up its frequency to
Kolkata with fares at Rs
3,500-level, exclusive of taxes.
Even as India’s Deccan Lanka prepares to fly out of
Colombo to various
Indian cities, parts of Gulf and South-East Asia by mid-’06, other LCAs from
the region like Malaysia’s Air Asia and Singapore’s Tiger Airways are
looking at an Indian stop-over next year.
JetStar Asia executives said the airline is looking at tapping leisure
travellers to Singapore and those going for onward holiday destinations like
Phuket and
Hong Kong. The introductory one-way fare to Bangalore at
Singapore$98 and Rs 6,000 for Bangalore-Singapore flight is valid from
December 13-19, for travel completed by March 25, ’06.
The no-frill JetStar flight will come with digEplayer service, which
combines music, movies and sitcoms in each seat at an additional cost of
Singapore$12 per flight. Hot food, snacks and beverages along with duty free
items can be purchased on board.
Malaysia’s Air Asia plans to connect metropolises like Kolkata and
Chennai over the next one year, while Singapore’s Tiger Airways too plans to
connect to major metros in India in ’06.
Airline industry sources said at least two other LCAs from South East
Asia are looking at flying to India over the next one year. This comes at a
time when India’s airlines are flying out to tap destinations in East Asia
and the Gulf.
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