Sunday 24 March 2013

Flier bonanza: Airfares 30% lower

Mumbai: The domestic air traveller hasnt had it this good in over a year.Those who book flight tickets for April or even the beginning of May can expect to bag fares almost 20% to 30% lower than those in March last year.
April and May-beginning are usually lean travel months.Airfares for travel in April,even weekends,are already lower than the usual fares during lean months.
A search on Saturday through major online travel portals throws up a one-way fare of Rs 4,600 from Mumbai to Delhi on a weekend.The return on Monday morning is as cheap as Rs 4,300.A Mumbai-to-Delhi ticket,a few months ago,would cost at least Rs 6,000.A Mumbai-to-Kolkata ticket for April could cost Rs 4,700.Another usually expensive destination,Chennai,comes for as low as Rs 4,100 for April.Usually,a one-way fare from Mumbai to the capital of Tamil Nadu costs at least Rs 6,500.Similarly,fares from Mumbai to Bangalore,Hyderabad and Goa are all available between Rs 2,700 and Rs 3,000.
By keeping fares low,airlines are trying to maximize passenger loads during the lean season,travel experts told TOI.Although a spate of discounts on offer till last week are over,fares to most domestic destinations continue to be at their lowest since March 2012,barring the next weekend,the eve of Holi.These rates are meant to entice people.Low fares stimulate travel and prompt people to take a short holiday, said Rajesh Rateria,managing director,Cirrus Travels,Mumbai.Rateria added the idea is to change the travel pattern so that seats dont go empty.These fares arent for those busy with exams or business results.These are only meant for those who can squeeze in a weekend getaway,he said.
Pradip Lulla from Cupid Travels here said domestic fares may have also been slashed be due to the immense popularity of international destinations.
http://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=1&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIKRKO&mydateHid=24-03-2013&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Kochi&edname=&articleid=Ar00103&publabel=TOI

 

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