The topic that is hot on everybody’s lips- are the Indian skies getting crowded? And the answer to that follows in the discussion recorded below. Let us consider the facts for this pertinent question bogging our fledgling LCC industry today: are the Indian skies getting crowded? Thinking from the viewpoint of the passengers, not really would be the tongue in cheek reply since where they are saving half the cost of regular fares by availing special discounts and APEX fare advantage, if there is scope for newer players entering this new market for low-cost flying, there would be no customer complaints as they would surely offer even lower costing tickets to stay in the competition. For the aviation industry and the government, this may well pose to be a teaser since the rock bottom airfares of LCCs flying sky high may well result in the Indian skies being in danger of getting crowded at first glance. Judging by the number of nametags on budget airlines competing for greater customer records each season, some of which include foreign players as well as domestic takers for Indian skies, such as Continental, Lufthansa, Emirates and Mahan; Indian counterparts like Air Deccan, Spice Jet, Kingfisher, Go Air and Magic Air.

The foreign budget players in LCC flying services providers or even exclusive air carriers have adopted the strategy of flying more frequently and also including the smaller cities in their touchdown points. If those flying services waiting in the sidelines for an NOC from the civil aviation ministry are to be counted for joining the party above the clouds are considered, namely, Yamuna Airlines, Visa and Air One, Inter Globe, Paramount, Indus Air and Skylark, it answers the are the Indian skies getting crowded question aptly enough.