Newsletter
IndiGo probably got tired of us believing that booking flights on a Tuesday night or Wednesday afternoon magically gets us cheaper tickets. So it decided to create a cheaper fare instead.
Note: before IndiGo, Air India had also introduced a "Basic" fare for price-conscious travellers by removing complimentary meals.
What's going on: the airline has launched "IndiGo Lite", a new budget fare for travellers who fly light. The ticket includes a 7 kg cabin bag and an auto-assigned seat. If you want checked baggage, a preferred seat, meals or priority boarding, you'll have to pay for those separately.
The new fare will be available on all non-stop domestic and international flights booked through IndiGo's website, app and contact centre from July 1, with travel beginning July 15.
The why: airlines have had a rough few months. The Iran conflict pushed up crude oil prices, making aviation turbine fuel (ATF) which is their biggest operating cost. Airspace closures also forced longer flying routes, increasing fuel consumption, while intense competition kept ticket prices under pressure.
Instead of raising fares for everyone, airlines are now offering stripped-down tickets so passengers pay only for the services they actually use.
Zoom out: IndiGo and Air India together account for nearly 90% of India's domestic aviation market.
As more Indians take to the skies, airlines are borrowing a strategy that's already common globally, offer a lower base fare and let travellers customise the rest.
