Empty Seats Rise For Indian Airlines First Time In 10 Quarters

Indian airlines took a leaf out of the telecom operators’ playbook—take fewer customers but charge a higher price.Occupancy fell for the first time in 10 quarters in the three months ended December as carriers increased ticket prices to cover higher costs, according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation data. The passenger load factor—the percentage of seats filled—declined 296 basis points over the previous quarter to 84.9 percent.