7 Best Budget Airlines in India for Domestic Travel

SpiceJet

IndiGo

Akasa Air

Air India

Air India Express

Alliance Air

FlyBig

SpiceJet is one of the low-cost airlines in India, providing competing pricing and good alliances to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. 

The airline offers cheap flight fares and voluntary priority check-in, and SpiceMax for extra legroom.

It's a good option for those who prefer low fares over frills. SpiceJet is perfect for passengers looking for basic comfort at a low cost.

IndiGo is the most famous low-cost airline in India, controlling more than 60% of the local market share. Relied upon for its on-time performance and huge route network, IndiGo is the first choice for most travellers looking for no-frills, on-time service. 

While meal, seat reservation, and checked-in baggage incur extra costs, the airline provides uniform quality and a new fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 planes.

A low-cost airline, Akasa Air manages an all-economy arrangement in their Boeing 737 MAX variants. To keep flight tickets at a cheap price, Akasa Airlines does not offer any meals; however, the airline manages Cafe Akasa, its own food service where travellers can buy food on board. Right now, the airline is not providing any entertainment system for flights. The airline provides travellers with "flexi premium services" where travellers get meals, priority and lower costs, seat selection, cancellations and date changes. This service is equivalent to other cheap flights in India.

Air India is cheaper because of government ownership, which authorises connective networks over profit. Managing in a high-price-sensitive market, it competes with low-cost airlines by keeping prices cheaper, mainly on busy international flights. The airline used older aircraft and offered fewer frills, reducing costs. High traffic volumes on popular routes also ensure low prices. Now owned by Tata Group, Air India is investing in fleet renewal and better service. 

Air India Express is a subsidiary of Air India, designed to offer cheap travel and focus on short- to medium-distance domestic and international routes. It was founded in 2005 to cater mainly to Indian emigrant workers travelling between India and other nations. Now owned by Tata Group.

Air India Express maintains low fares by requiring travellers to pay only for basic needs, and extra charges are included in services like baggage allowance, seat selection and meals. 

The Tata Group is currently rebuilding and expanding Air India Express. The carrier provides full service at a low cost.

Alliance Air, a regional arm of Air India, tends to be more affordable as it focuses on serving smaller, unserved airports in India, linking tier-2 and tier-3 cities. The airline manages a smaller fleet, primarily containing ATR aircraft, which is economically cost-effective for small routes and less passenger traffic.

As a regional airline, Alliance Air adopts a no-frills model by keeping minimum costs on basic travel services and amenities.

Its prices are maintained low to promote accessibility for many travellers, especially those in remote regions who could otherwise find it difficult to be connected, and profit from Air India's extensive network.

FlyBig is a lower-cost airline based on its low-cost carrier business model, which aims at minimum operational costs. By providing no-frills services, including free in-flight meals or entertainment, the airline maintains low airfares.

FlyBig also uses a smaller number of aircraft, primarily the ATR 72, which are more cost-effective to operate than larger jets. The regional presence of the airline connecting tier 3 and tier 2 cities means it is able to operate on less competitive routes, hence maintaining lower fares.

FlyBig also keeps costs down by operating with fewer employees and a lower-frill operation. It operates with a cost leadership strategy to capture riders who might otherwise use other means of transport, such as trains or buses. While FlyBig has cheaper tickets, travellers can anticipate fewer facilities and services than full-service carriers, making it perfect for travellers on a budget.