More flights operate, but passenger footfalls stay low

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:06.11.2020

Even though the number of flights operating from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad has risen, with more domestic and international routes opening, passenger footfalls at the airport have remained low. Aircraft capacity continues to be underutilized, according to data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Some 2.74 lakh passengers used SVPI airport in Ahmedabad in September 2020, against 9.21lakhin September 2019.This means passenger footfalls declined by 70%.

Travel agents said footfalls havedeclinedduetowidespread apprehensions among people about travel due to the pandemic. “Airport passenger movement has improved marginally in September, but with restrictions on international travel and limited leisure travel, the number of travellers is really low,” said a city-based tour operator.

Corporate travel has also been affected asseveralentitieshave imposed travel restrictions on employees. This segment contributed about 40% of all travellers. Only people who have to address emergencies are travelling, tour operators in the city said. The four major airports in the state — Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara andRajkot—saw passenger footfalls decline by an average of 78% this August, against the same month last year.

Things are likely to improve marginally in October and November due to the festival season, sources said.

“Holiday inquiries for the festive season are good. Even though most people are reluctant to travel by air, inquiries for certain destinations are coming in and this will improve passenger footfalls,” said Manish Sharma, secretary, Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI), Gujarat.

The travel and tourism business has taken a major hit and many players have turned to alternative businesses.