Business class flyers worst affected as Jet Airways suspends flights

TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 07.58 AM IST

CHENNAI: Flying business class on the domestic sector from Chennai might soon become a thing of the past as Jet Airways, which had the most number of flights to metros, especially during peak hours, have cancelled most of them from Chennai after the airline grounded its planes due to a financial crisis.

The members of Jet Airways frequent flyer programme and also those who have booked business class seats have started cancelling their tickets since there is uncertainty whether the airline would maintain its schedule. Air India is the only alternative, and there is a huge increase in airfare as only a few seats are left on Chennai-Mumbai and Chennai-Delhi flights.

Air India, Jet Airways and Vistara offer business class / first class seats on domestic network. Among these, Jet had the maximum services from Chennai. Air India has only fewer flights while Vistara flies to four cities from Chennai.

Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) national president D Sudhakara Reddy said, “The choice is few for business class travellers. They have no option but to travel by economy.”

M K Ajith Kumar of Asia Pacific Tours said, "Business class options will remain confined to Air India and Vistara apart from few international airlines which may connect some cities. Hence, business class fares are likely to go up unless the fares are capped until the situation stabilizes."

Reddy said Jet Airways had four to five flights to Mumbai and two to three flights to Delhi during peak hours.

"It has a loyal customer base. The airline should try to retain the customers in this time of crisis. They should not be charging cancellation fee from passengers who are cancelling the tickets because they are not sure if the flights are operated."

There could also be an arrangement with other airlines to carry the passengers, he added. "Such measures will help the airline retain its customers," he said.

Jet Airways has cancelled 19 flights outside Chennai in March of which many were during the peak hours.