Today, with airline ticket prices and the BSE Sensex having switched roles, yesterday's bitter rivals Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways have struck a grand alliance that could also draw in Indigo and Paramount. Will it work? Or work against consumers? Kushan Mitra says that even as the airlines fight off one demon, they are faced with another: a weaker global economy.

The civil aviation industry in India is neck-deep in trouble. India’s airlines lost Rs 4,000 crore last year and may lose more this year. A couple of airlines may even go under. How did fortunes suddenly turn in an industry that was witnessing 20 per cent passenger growth till as recently as six months ago? Kushan Mitra finds out. Tax cuts may give respite to aviation sector: PatelPricing tickets below costs should stop: Goyal

LCCs have grabbed 40 per cent of the market.

Kingfisher and Deccan are like chalk and cheese, with different operating philosophies and different target segments. The two airlines have different business models and cater to different passenger segments. What, then, is the rationale behind their merger? Kingfisher in Europe & US, Deccan in Asia: Mallya Kingfisher to fly abroad this year: PatelWind under their wingsBeyond the horizon

Consumers always hunt for bargains and switch brands faster than they hit store shelves. It is a brave task to stand apart. Our fourth annual listing of best marketers brings a list of marketers who know consmers the best.

Investors might remember how they got burned during Jet Airways’ market debut. The scrip, which listed at Rs 1,350, dropped to Rs 550 within a few months of listing.

The consolidation in the Indian airspace will put an end to predatory pricing.

As elsewhere in the world, Airbus and Boeing remain the two big aircraft vendors in India, but a few smaller players are also angling for a share of the market.

Overcrowded and inadequate terminals, delayed flights and a lack of space for parking planes are just some of the problems plaguing the Indian aviation sector. The good news is that things may begin to change for the better from next year.

Private Indian carriers are keen to get a piece of international travel, simply because it’s a growing market and that’s where the money is.

With low-cost carriers becoming part of full-service airlines, there’s hope that the industry will soar into the profit zone. But too many things can still go wrong.