Coimbatore: Jet Airways has decided to suspend seven daily flight services from Coimbatore to Bengaluru and Chennai from July 1. The airline’s decision has drawn flak from industrialists as it would hit business opportunities in the district.
Industrialists said the suspension would lead to a loss of 25,000 seats a month. Besides affecting the connectivity between Chennai and Coimbatore, it would also lead to hike in fares. The move will affect business opportunities in Coimbatore as travelers from abroad will have to wait almost seven to eight hours to fly into the city from Chennai.
While confirming its decision, Jet Airways has not given any reasons for the move officially. Sources say it is part of the plan to shift ATR flights to smaller cities and airports under the UDAN, a regional air connectivity scheme launched by the Union government.
Former chairman of CII, Tamil Nadu, Ravi Sam said, “To our understanding, the services have been flying with a 90% to 92% occupancy. Cancelling them would mean the city losing 25,000 to 30,000 seats a month in an instant.”
“I am sure airlines like Vistara would love to enter the Coimbatore market in place of Jet Airways,” he said.
Besides, a probable hike in fare and hit in connectivity are expected to last at least for the next few months. “This cancellation and the resulting increase in demand will lead to existing airlines hiking their fares. So, a Coimbatore to Chennai or Bangalore ticket will now cost as much as a Coimbatore to Delhi or Mumbai ticket,” said the chairman of CII, Coimbatore zone, M Ramesh. “Many business travellers used to fly to the above cities in morning and return in the evening. Now, they have to leave a day earlier,” he said.
Industrialists expect overseas travellers flying in and out of the city to be affected too. “Imagine a traveller who flew 8.5 hours to reach Chennai from Europe, but then having to wait another six to seven hours for a flight to reach Coimbatore,” said Sam. “And most flyers are patients, students, young professionals and businessmen. The move affects not just Coimbatore but also Tirupur, Namakkal, Erode districts,” he said.