Here is good news for airline companies in India: A majority of air travellers will fly, even if the fare is doubled.

According to a survey conducted by aviation consultant Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation [CAPA], 67 per cent of passengers of full service carriers (FSC) and 51 per cent of low cost carrier (LCC) travellers would have in any case travelled even if the fare had been doubled.

Sixty seven per cent of FSC passengers chose their flight according to a convenient schedule or a previous experience, as compared to just nine of FSC passengers whose choice was based on price.

As for LCC passengers, a total of 38 per cent of passengers of budget carriers chose their flight according to a convenient schedule or a previous experience, equalling the percentage of LCC passengers (38 per cent) whose choice was based on price.

Interestingly, in an indication of the purchasing power of the people, 57.5 per cent of FSC passengers would fly with an FSC rather than an LCC, even if the trip was personal and self financed.

Said CAPA’s India head Kapil Kaul, “Three years into India’s rapid liberalisation of its aviation market, most Indian airlines are continuing to lose large amounts of money, resulting in the consolidation currently sweeping the industry”.

He added that yields had been consistently insufficient to deliver even the smallest profit. Mr Kaul also added, “these survey results suggest that the Indian aviation industry could potentially sustain fare increases by all carriers.

There is a particular message for FSCs: A large number of passengers who value features such as frequency, flexibility, reliability and in-flight service and are prepared to pay for them”.