The Fly Bus service between Mysuru and Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is the most sought-after mode of transport between the two destinations.
A hassle-free journey, round the clock safety and accurate schedule at an affordable price has all the more made the service attractive and reliable for travellers.
Launched in August 2013, the service faced teething troubles with fewer passengers and struggled to achieve break-even. Four years down the line, the service has been profitable as well as pleasing the commuters.
According to officials, though the average passenger traffic is about 50%, profit per kilometre is almost double. KSRTC spends Rs 49-50 per kilometre to operate a Fly Bus, while it earns revenue of Rs 85-90 per kilometre.
“I keep coming to India frequently. For me it’s important to have a direct bus from the Bengaluru airport to Mysuru, my native. Fly Bus service is fulfilling my requirements,”
says J Prasad, a resident of SBM Colony in west Mysuru.
But there are some concerns that need to be addressed. KSRTC should provide power points or USB ports to charge smartphones and laptops, and install TV screens on seats. Initially, there were TV screens, but now they’re missing, he added.
KSRTC has been operating twelve trips a day from each destination, but passenger traffic from KIA is on the higher side. Fly Bus service has been successful because it is reliable and punctual, says B Srinivas, divisional traffic officer, Mysuru.
The service is also popular among foreign nationals. On an average, 15% of all the passengers who board a Fly Bus are from abroad. It takes less than four hours to reach Mysuru and vice-versa, Srinivas said.
The service has been lauded by many as there hasn’t been a single complaint against the staff in the last four years. Travelling is safe as the buses are monitored from a control room and there wasn’t a single accident involving Fly Bus,
he added.
