The Hindu Business Line : Airlines brace for lean season with lower fares

While Air India, British Airways and Jet Airways have already effected a cut in fares, bmi (British Midlands) has said it would match the drop in fares from Monday (October 3).

Air India on Friday announced that a limited number of seats on its services to London, Paris and Frankfurt would be available at a special fare of Rs 18,990 (exclusive of taxes). This is nearly Rs 7,000 lower than the normal fare of Rs 26,900 on these sectors.

Similarly, the fare to its four US destinations, namely, New York, Newark, Chicago, and Los Angeles, has also been brought down to Rs 37,990 (exclusive of taxes). The normal fare is approximately Rs 45,000 (exclusive of taxes).

These special fares are valid for travel from October 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005, and from February 1, 2006 to March 31, 2006. Ticketing for these fares should be completed by October 31, 2005.

No revision on Gulf route: An AI spokesperson said the airline has not revised fares on the Gulf sector, which is operated on the low-cost model by Air India Express.

The special fares had been announced while keeping in mind the lower traffic during the off-season; the competition on these sectors; as well as the need to make air travel more affordable, he added.

Earlier this week, British Airways had announced a promotional fare of Rs 19,000 (exclusive of taxes) from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore to London up to October-end. An airline spokesperson said the normal fare on the India-London sector could vary from Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000.

Ms Sheela Mehra, Manager (Sales and Marketing), bmi, said the British carrier would match the fares of its competitors on this sector. Loads on bmi, which began services from India in May this year, are currently at 80 per cent, she said.

Travel industry sources point out that Jet has also announced fares of Rs 19,000 (exclusive of taxes) on its flights to London as against a normal fare of Rs 27,000.

The sources added that Gulf Air, Oman Air and Etihad were among the Gulf-based carriers that had also introduced lower fares to take on the stiff competition.

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