A low-cost airline is also known as discount carrier an airline that offers generally low fares in exchange for eliminating many traditional passenger services. This concept originated in the United States before spreading to Europe in the early 1990s and then the rest of the world
Features of a Low cost Airlines :
- Single passenger class
- Single type of airplane reducing training and servicing costs.
- Simple fare scheme
- Seating arrangement unreserved
- Flying to cheaper, less congested secondary airports
- Early flights to avoid air traffic delays
- Short flights and fast turnaround times
- Direct sales of tickets, over the internet avoiding fees and commissions paid to travel agents
- Encouraged use and issuance of the electronic ticket
- Employees working in multiple roles, for instance flight attendants also cleaning the aircraft or working as gate agents
- No "free" in-flight catering and other "complimentary" services and replaced by optional paid-for in-flight food and drink
- Aggressive fuel hedging programs
