E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, AUG 29 -

Buddha Air’s fleet expansion drive has allowed it to consolidate its market share in domestic aviation. Addition of ATR 72 aircraft has helped Buddha to maintain its leadership in passenger movement in the first half of 2011 with a market share of more than 40 percent.

According to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Buddha was one of the two airlines to post a growth in passenger movement in the first six months of this year. The airline recorded an increment of 21.73 percent in passenger carriage. Except for Buddha Air and Sita Air, all the domestic carriers posted a negative growth in their passenger movement in the first six months.

Buddha Air officials attribute this growth to the induction of ATR 72 into its fleet. “As of now, we have healthy occupancy and are hoping that the upcoming tourist season will bring more passengers to us,” said Rupesh Joshi, marketing manager of Buddha Air.

Buddha’s nearest competitor Yeti Airlines saw its passenger movement dip by 1.55 percent. However, the airline is still the second largest carrier in domestic aviation with 224,062 passengers flying it in the first half of 2011.

According to TIA statistics, domestic airlines carried 761,043 passengers in the first six months, up 36,160 from last year. However, the rate of growth in passenger movement in the first half, 4.98 percent, is the lowest in three years. Growth in the first halves of 2010 and 2009 reached 19.82 percent and 32.05 percent respectively.

Airliners said passenger movement in domestic aviation generally increases in the second half of the year. According to Prajwol Thapa, marketing manager of Guna Airlines, the period April-June is normally considered to be the off-season for domestic airlines.

The period August-November is the prime business season for domestic carriers with the occurrence of the Dashain and Tihar festivals and the tourist season. This period sees the highest passenger movement on the major trunk routes and tourist sectors.

With the tourist season approaching, airlines have been adding new destinations to their networks and increasing their flight frequency. Guna Airlines is starting its service to Janakpur from the third week of September.

“We will be serving the Kathmandu-Janakpur sector from Sept 18 while our flights to Pokhara will be increased to five daily from three for the upcoming tourist season,” Thapa said.

Posted on: 2011-08-29 09:32

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