"THE EVOLUTION OF LOW-COST CARRIERS (LCCS): A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIGO WITH OTHER INDIAN LCCS"

The Indian aviation sector has been transformed by the growth of low-cost carriers (LCCs), making air travel more accessible. This paper, "The Evolution of Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs): A Comparative Analysis of IndiGo with other Indian LCCs," analyzes key Indian LCCs: IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express and Akasa Air. Using a mixed-methods approach with passenger surveys and financial data, the study finds that IndiGo's market dominance is due to its standardized fleet, operational discipline and punctuality. After merging with AirAsia India, Air India Express is recovering strongly. Newcomer Akasa Air is rapidly growing with high operational reliability, while SpiceJet faces financial and operational challenges. The research concludes that long-term success for LCCs in India hinges on cost leadership, network optimization and consistent service quality. These findings offer valuable insights for industry leaders and policymakers on strategies for sustainability and growth in a competitive and consolidating market.