Low fare offers make travel to the US cheaper this summer

TNN | Apr 1, 2019, 06.59 AM IST

CHENNAI: A summer low fare sale introduced by Etihad Airways and Emirates and ticketing portals has brought down the air fare from Chennai to destinations in the US for travel in April and May.

Etihad’s offer of return fare starting at Rs 64,000 to the US is aimed at encouraging passengers who have not planned their trips to plan a holiday. But the offer has led to a general dip in airfare across airlines on the route.

The summer months are peak travel season as families travel to the US to meet relatives. There is a Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 decrease in the fare when compared to previous summer months because of the offer. As the airlines in the Middle East which fly via hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are offering cheaper tickets, the cost of air travel to the US has come down compared to the airlines which fly via Europe or the UK. People need not spend more than a lakh to travel to the US this summer.

The starting return fare for is at Rs 67,000 to New York and Chicago, while it is at Rs 80,000 to Los Angeles and Rs 68,000 to Washington for travel in mid-April. These fares should have been higher by Rs 10,000 usually.

“Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways are most preferred by travellers from Chennai. Etihad and Emirates have an offer running which has led to a dip in fare. But because of high demand some of the best fare are not available on weekends,” said Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels. He said foreign airlines have started to introduce offers on routes from India to the US via the Middle East because the advance booking period window has reduced from six months to two months.

“People these days book tickets two to three months in advance on the route while there used to be long advance booking two years ago. The offers are being introduced because people did not book seats for travel in April and May well in advance this year, a trend different from last year. The fare cut will now cater to people who prefer to book tickets now for travel end of April or May.”

Flying by European airlines are not only expensive but the choice of hub is limited. After Dubai grew as a hub for transit to different destinations, European carriers have begun facing tough competition to attract passengers who travel to the US. Besides, the Middle Eastern countries have started to encourage travellers to make a stopover in Dubai or Abu Dhabi before proceeding to destinations in the US by offering easy transit visa.