Indian carriers will have to deal with the new reality of dwindling load factors on international routes, though marginally, following the spread of swine flu. Even as many airlines, including Jet Airways amongst others, maintain that as of now their load factors are not impacted due to the pandemic, which has affected 1,516 persons globally, industry observers anticipate a marginal drop in air travel to international destinations.
Even the health ministry has asked citizens to impose restrictions on travel to high-risk destinations.
Till date, 15 persons have been detected positive for swine flu in India. Says an industry expert, ?Airlines, including Jet, Kingfisher and Air India, generate nearly 60% of their revenue from international operations. There might be a marginal dip of 5% business in the short term. Operators, in sheer desperation, have started offering attractive fares to spike up international travel, but there are few takers.? He added that swine flu could further slide revenue for carriers.
Jet?s CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schaeur, in an analysts’ meet after the announcement of the fourth quarter results of the previous financial year, had said, ?Our international operations have shown improved performance. The upward trend was visible in all key markets and was supported by network restructuring on the North America routes as well as the full impact of cancellation of weak and non-performing routes to the US, UK and Gulf.?
He had then said that the share of international operating revenues to the total was over 56%. Jet reported a Q4 net profit of Rs 53 crore on revenue of Rs 2,566 crore.
However, in anticipation of sluggish travel demand due to the economic downturn, the carrier said it has initiated cost-cutting measures to improve its financials.
Meanwhile, Mumbai and Delhi airports have recently procured a thermal camera for screening of arriving passengers for swine flu at their international terminal. On detecting a person with a body temperature above normal (above 98.6 degree Fahrenheit), the camera gives a beeping alarm and also captures the image.