Low Cost Indian Airlines

Air Deccan India's second largest airline, they have the largest network in India and is presently operating a modern fleet of 40 aircraft. They fly to a number of destinations, including unconnected sectors like Hubli, Belgaum, Vijayawada, Nashik, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Kanpur, Dehradun, Tuticorin Hampi, Kandla, Kullu, Rajahmundry and Pathankot. This list includes towns in many remote interior areas. So there you have it. Easyjet, Indian style. Interesting logo of the "common man".

Air India Express, a "me too" offshoot of the main airline, flies to 7 international destinations- Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Muscat, Salalah and Singapore from 9 Indian cities - Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthpuram, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Amritsar, Chennai and Mangalore. Bahrain/Doha and Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangalore and Mumbai. Additionally, two weekly flights between Mumbai/Pune and Singapore. Three weekly flights between Thiruchirapally and Singapore. On the domestic front, they operate Mumbai-Kochi, Mumbai-Kozhikode, Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Chennai, Mumbai-Pune, Delhi-Amritsar, Kozhikode-Kochi, Kozhikode Thiruvananthpuram and Kochi-Thiruvananthpuram. A bit shambolic, but works.

Currently, GoAir services 13 cities with 61 flights daily. The airports serviced are Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Mumbai, Pune and Srinagar. Adding better connectivity to facilitate travel will be part of GoAir's aggressive strategy. "GoAir - The People's Airline is looking at 'commoditising air travel'. The airline is a low fare carrier and endeavours to offer airline seats at marginally higher than train prices to all cities in India, in a phased manner." Chocks away!

IndiGo serves Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Imphal, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune and Vadodara. IndiGo plans to serve approximately 30 Indian cities by 2010, with a fleet of approximately 40 A320s. Very modern and highly efficient outfit with generally good flight departure and arrival times.

Indus Airways was created from the erstwhile Northern Airways by inducting state of the art aircraft and offering services, "which would have made Northern Airways proud". Indus Airways uses (a) Canadian made, CRJ-200 jetliner. Limited range and destinations of Amritsar, Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh. Trying hard.

Jagson Airlines Ltd are an air taxi operation and cover (mainly) Chandigrarh, Delhi, Dharamshala, Kullu, Pantnager and Shimla. They do have a website but, by the nature of their operation, are hard work to book so you will really need to telephone them. Been around for some time and are nonetheless reliable.

Despite the connotations, Jazeera Airlines are very, very good. Owned by the Kuwait Governemnt, they have money and it shows. Great aircraft, excellent staff. This airline belongs on other pages and not just India. They service internationally the Indian cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi. Kuwait based (obviously) and a very useful airline to keep at the back of the mind when in this neck of the woods.

Kingfisher connects 30 Indian cities: Agartala, Agatti Island, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Goa, Guwahati, Hubli, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Srinagar, Tiruchirapally, Tirupati, Trivandrum, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam. Some flights also offer a first class cabin. One of the top low cost carriers in India.

Mahan is really an Irianian Airline operating from Tehran. Operates to Delhi and Cochin. Really irritating website with irrelevant adverts and popups - and doesn't it work properly. One horse outfit which may be useful (Not to sure for what, though). Oh Dear!

Paramount links Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Madurai, Trivandrum & Vishakhapatnam. Famous for not having middle seats. Nice, stylish decor and interiors, modern planes and business class cabins. Excellent, with good website and easy booking.

SpiceJet flies Boeing 737-800 jets. Only. They have cheap flights connecting 14 Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Srinagar, Varanasi. Comes complete with their own shops and associated hotels. Well thought out website and easy to book. Online checkin facilites and many mod cons.

Air Sahara began operations on December 3, 1993. It first operated with a fleet of only two Boeing 737-200s. Today, its fleet includes the new Generation Boeings 737-700s, 737-800s, Classic 737-400s and the wide body 767-300 ER. The airline has also a fleet of 7 Canadair Regional Jets.

The fleet also includes four highly advanced Helicopters (Dauphin and Ecureuil), which provide charter services. Air Sahara flies to various destinations in India, which include Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Bhubaneshwar, Ranchi and others. International destinations include Singapore, Colombo and Kathmandu. Likely to be taken over soon, but a very useful regional Indian airline.