Honeymoon over for no-frills airlines: expert

Mumbai, Sep 29 (UNI) Prof Nawal Taneja, chairman of aviation department at the Ohio State University, today warned the Indian low-cost carriers (LCCs) that their honeymoon period is over as full service carriers begin to fight back.

He said LCCs that can develop into new generation carriers will grow to become global players. Those that do not will simply fail.

''There are many opportunities but don't kid yourself. There are even more challenges. It is going to be a little like the dot.com boom. There will be many failures but the few that survive are going to become global players.'' Mr Taneja was addressing delegates who gathered here for third annual symposium on LCCs organised by the Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

''Two-third of legacy carriers around the world are asleep, but some are waking up. They will provide serious competition to LCCs that take them for granted. LCCs from India and other emerging markets must develop to become new generation carriers and take advantage of the opportunity to become global players,'' he said.

''Those who think they have got it made, well, let me tell you, the honeymoon is over. And those that think that full service carriers are dead will have some serious problems,'' said Prof Taneja.

UNI SU RA GC1502