Facing high ATF prices, IndiGO suspends some flights

New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) In the face of high jet fuel prices, low cost carrier IndiGo today announced the suspension of some flights till September.

These are nonstop round trip services-- Ahmedabad-Pune, Bangalore-Kochi, Bhubaneshwar-Kolkata, Hyderabad-Chennai and Nagpur-Kolkata.

However, despite reducing its number of daily flights, the airline will retain connecting services, IndiGo President Bruce Ashby said, while announcing the interim summer schedule, effective from July 20 to September 30.

Bhubaneshwar and Mumbai, previously served with a daily nonstop in both directions, will now be served daily via Hyderabad.

Ahmedabad and Kolkota, previously served with a daily nonstop in both directions, will now be served daily via Delhi.

''Recent results in certain city pairs have been affected by the spiralling cost of aviation turbine fuel, and this has led us to revise our summer schedule to rebalance our supply of seats and demand for those seats at prevailing fare levels,'' he said.

''This is being done from the around middle of July to September end, which is traditionally a lean travel season.'' IndiGo also announced certain improvements such as early evening nonstop services between Delhi and Mumbai, same airplane connecting service between Mumbai and Guwahati via Kolkota, additional daily (excluding Saturday) nonstop services from Bangalore to Pune with a same airplane continuation to Nagpur and return, and improved flight timings in a number of city pairs.

''Our commitment to affordability, on-time performance, quality and convenience is unchanged, and we are not modifying our aircraft delivery plans,'' Mr Ashby said.

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