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Etihad to increase India market share
Passengers on the Indian routes may benefit from the brewing competition which will trigger when Etihad Airways will triple its seat capacity in November.
According to travel trade executives, Etihad Airways’ plans to increase its seats capacity and more flights between Abu Dhabi and India will kick start a real competition with Emirates, which has its huge presence in India.
Emirates and Etihad Airways each flies to ten destinations in India.
But, Etihad plans to acquire 24 per cent shares of troubled family owned Jet Airways for $379 million, means the UAE national carrier may access to a network of 40 more destinations, giving it wider geographical footprint deep into the country putting it in a better spot in the emerging competition.But, an Indian politician has filed a petition the other day against Etihad Airways deal, which may delay the acquisition, but not the competition.
Etihad Airways revealed its expansion plans on Thursday saying it “will increase options for travel to and from India, introducing more flights and wide-bodied jets by the end of this year, and further increases and new routes next year, subject to regulatory approval.”
From November 1 this year, Etihad Airways plans to more than triple the number of seats it now offers on the prime Abu Dhabi– Mumbai and Abu Dhabi–New Delhi routes, reflecting the growing importance of the Indian market, and delivering significant economic benefits to the economies of India and Abu Dhabi.
Both the UAE airlines have bigger stakes in India, as according to a study Emirates contributed $560 million to the economy in the shape of fees, taxes, fuel purchases. It provides over 1000 jobs and support 80000 employees indirectly.
Enriching the expanded schedules will be new connection opportunities between Etihad’s global network and its expanded Indian services, via the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub.
An aviation expert talking to Khaleej Times said the Etihad’s move may get it a bigger slice on North America, Europe and Far East sectors, where Etihad has huge seat capacity it acquired recently through tie-ups and acquisitions and opening of new routes.
More and more Indians have started coming to Abu Dhabi, according to Tourism and Cultural Authority of TCA, which said the number of Indians who checked in 140 hotels rose 43 per cent year-on-year in the first six months of the year.
TCA said 80,179 Indians stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels accounting for 334,238 guest nights, which is up 43 per cent on 2012. They stayed an average of 4.17 nights, an increase of 17 per cent.
“We are benefitting from increased destination awareness in India following the opening a year ago of a dedicated promotions office there and also of increased air access from the country following Etihad Airways’ equity stake in Jet Airways and the move by the Indian carrier of its Middle East hub to Abu Dhabi,” explained Mubarak Al Muhairi, the director general of TCA.
According to travel trade executives fare values on Indian routes have dropped 10-15 per cent in the recent months.
With the two players preparing to go battle out for a bigger market share, analysts forecast another five per cent drop in the fares, once competition begins.
“Following the recent signing of a new air services agreement between India and the UAE, we now have the opportunity to add significant capacity between the two countries, not only meeting existing demand for trade and tourist travel but also ensuring that we can meet the continued strong growth which is expected between our two countries. The big winners will be our passengers and freight customers and the economies of India and Abu Dhabi.”
By December 31, 2013, Etihad Airways plans to increase from daily to double-daily its Abu Dhabi-Mumbai and Abu Dhabi-New Delhi flights; Use wide-bodied Airbus A340-600 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi – Mumbai flights, offering First, Business and Economy Classes.
The national carrier will use wide-bodied Airbus A330-200 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi-New Delhi flights, offering Business and Economy Class; and upgrade daily Abu Dhabi–Chennai flights from 136-seat Airbus A320s to new Airbus A321s, seating 174 passengers.
Subject to regulatory approval, Etihad also intends to codeshare on a wide range of flights operated within India by Jet Airways.
Specific details of new routes between Abu Dhabi and India and codeshare services with Jet Airways will be announced progressively, as approvals are received and operational details are finalised, the airline said.
The UAE-India aviation agreement finalised earlier this month allows both countries’ airlines to add 36.670 seats per week over three years against 13600 seats at present.
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