DELHI- Home to the largest population of the Indian diaspora in Australia, Melbourne (MEL) is witnessing a significant increase in demand for direct air connectivity with India. This surge in demand has prompted Melbourne Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Lorie Argus, to anticipate new flights from major Indian carriers such as Air India (AI) and IndiGo (6E).
Let’s delve deeper into the insights shared by Argus to Sukulp Sharma regarding the growing importance of the Indian market for Melbourne Airport and the potential for enhanced direct connectivity in the coming years.
Melbourne India Flights and Potential
India holds a crucial position in Melbourne Airport’s list of priority markets, being the fastest-growing long-haul market for the airport. Over the past year, direct services between Melbourne and India have expanded by a remarkable 330%, indicating a robust demand for travel between the two destinations.
Despite the growth in direct connectivity, a considerable portion of India-Australia air traffic still flows through connecting hubs like Singapore (SIN), highlighting the underutilized potential for direct services.
The consistent growth in the India to Melbourne market, including flights via other countries, at a rate of 11% reflects the promising trajectory of this market compared to other regions still struggling post-pandemic.
The significance of direct flights from India cannot be overstated from an airport perspective, especially given Melbourne’s non-hub status in the aviation landscape. Direct point-to-point services cater to the preferences of passengers who seek convenient and efficient travel options.
New aircraft technologies with extended range capabilities have enabled airlines to introduce more direct long-haul services to meet the escalating demand in Melbourne, signaling a positive trend towards enhancing direct connectivity between India and Australia.
Talks with Air India and IndiGo
Melbourne Airport is actively engaging with Air India and IndiGo to explore opportunities for expanding flight operations between Indian cities and Melbourne.
Discussions with IndiGo, which recently announced a codeshare partnership with Qantas (QF), indicate the airline’s interest in serving the Australian market with its upcoming wide-body aircraft.
Similarly, efforts are underway to collaborate with Air India to augment flight frequencies and explore new routes beyond existing direct services to Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM).
As Air India focuses on developing Bengaluru as a hub in southern India, Melbourne Airport is keen on establishing direct flights between Melbourne and Bengaluru.
Leveraging the success of existing services to Sydney, Melbourne is poised to benefit from potential direct connections to Bengaluru within the next year.
The collaborative efforts between Air India and Melbourne Airport aim to harness the growing demand for direct flights and enhance connectivity between key cities in India and Australia.
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