Despite tall claims by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about keeping a check on airfares, Indian carriers are charging exorbitant fares during this festive season.

Leading private airline Jet Airways, for instance, is charging a whopping Rs.18,184 to Rs. 28,118 for a Delhi-Mumbai one-way ticket for Sunday (November 6) and the following Monday and Tuesday as per a report in India Today by Sanjay Singh. The steep airfares can become a spoilsport for many who are planning a vacation during Christmas and New Year this year.

According to Jet Airways' Website, the economy fare for a one-way Delhi-Mumbai ticket on December 29 is Rs. 30,198. Similarly, its Mumbai-Goa economy fare for December 29 is Rs. 26,518, Bangalore-Goa Rs. 25,170 and Mumbai-Goa fare Rs.30,918.

Other carriers like Kingfisher Airlines and Air India (AI) are also charging high fares for the same period though these are lower those of Jet Airways.

Airlines had jacked up fares on some metro sectors during Diwali this year. As a practice, Indian commercial airlines that largely report losses during the July-September monsoon season, hike fares during the festive season starting September-end as demand for air travel picks up.

The fares are generally much higher as the weekend approaches.

Last-minute one-way fares to cities like Jaipur, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram have gone up to between Rs.25,000 and Rs. 30,000.

While the busiest Mumbai- Delhi sector fares are ruling at Rs.13,000- Rs. 19,000, fares on the Kolkata-Mumbai sector have crossed the Rs.25,000-level and Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram last minute fares are Rs. 28,000 and above.

This has raised fears that airlines may hike fares to exorbitant levels like they did last year at this time.

(You need to login first to read complete news).
New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News