AI plans to connect Tier-II cities with metros

In a bid to increase its market share,Air India will now include small or tier-II cities on its network map at competitive fares,said a top Air India official.

We are actively looking at re-distributing our total number of seats across the network,especially on the non-breakfast (off-peak hour) flights to connect more cities, Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav said at the launch of an afternoon Delhi-Gwalior-Mumbai flight on Monday.

We are looking at seven-eight more such flights to connect smaller cities to

two metros, he said. The move is aimed at shoring up Air Indias passenger count and while also enhancing aircraft utilisation. I have asked the marketing department to examine if there is a demand for additional frequency in the prime or non-prime slots where these cities could also be accommodated, Jadhav said. The airline is exploring the possibility of launching flights on routes like Delhi-Ranchi-Kolkata,Guwahati-Pune and Hyderabad.

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The Delhi-Gwalior-Mumbai flight,said MoS for commerce and industry Jyotiraditya Scindia,would connect Madhya Pradeshs political capital to the financial capital of the country,and facilitate movement of the business community.

This flight,economically priced at Rs 2,600 will give competition to the Shatabdi train, Scindia said. Scindia had assured the civil aviation minister Vyalar Ravi that the flight will see high load factor.