Deep discounts on domestic airfares make a comeback

Deep discounts on domestic airfares make a comeback

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai/ New Delhi:  15.01.2021

With the government cap on domestic airfares ending on March 31, airlines ticket sales are back with discounts on summer flights. While almost all Indian carriers have started deep discount advance booking schemes, UAE’s Etihad has come out with a fly-childrenfor-free with parents offer.

“Adults who book their next flight to Abu Dhabi or Dubai with Etihad can take their children (up to 11 years of age) for free. With every adult ticket booked before January 28 for travel, until September 30, up to two children will travel free. So, two adults can bring four children,” Etihad said in a statement.

On Thursday, return airfares on routes like Mumbai-Cochin for travel in April-May were available for Rs 4,500, while a Mumbai-Delhi return was priced at Rs 5,000. Return tickets on low supply-high demand flights like non-stops from Mumbai to Dehradun began at Rs 9,000. Among the cheapest return fares were those on Mumbai-Goa flights priced at Rs 3,750 on IndiGo.

Travel portal ixigo founder-CEO Aloke Bajpai said: “Airfare data for first two weeks of January show that there has been a 15-20% monthon-month decline in average airfares across key domestic routes. Vaccine roll-out and cheap fares will lead to a substantial increase in demand to travel by summer this year … With major airlines like Indi-Go, SpiceJet and Vistara running heavy sales, this is a good time for travellers to avail the best prices for their upcoming trips.”

Last week, Vistara had launched a sale, with the cheapest fare on offer priced at Rs 1,300. On Friday, IndiGo began a five-day special domestic sale which will end on January 17.

“It will offer customers allinclusive fares on domestic flights starting at Rs 877.

The sale is valid on travel from April 1 to September 30. Change or cancellation fee of Rs 500 will be applicable on bookings made during the sale,” said an IndiGo spokesperson.

The government had enforced a price cap on airfares in May 2020