Airlines have started offering hefty discounts of up to 30 per cent on
select international routes on advance purchase of tickets from various Indian destinations as the lean season has set in and is expected to continue till April end.
Emirates Airlines has
cut airfares by around 30 per cent on international routes on advance purchase of tickets. Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Air India is also offering discounts ranging between 10 per cent to 30 per cent on many international routes.
Other Indian carriers including IndiGo are offering a Rs 1,500 discount on one-way fares apart from discounted tickets on international routes.
Emirates Airline that operates around 185 flights a week to ten Indian cities started its discounted fares from Jan 23 on advance purchases ranging from three to ten days on flights to Dubai. The offer is open till March 31.
According to travel agents, the move has triggered a price war. Cathay Pacific has begun offering an over 10 per cent discount for travel to Hong Kong from India. IndiGo, SpiceJet amongst other Indian carriers have also slashed their fares to compete with Emirates Airline.
Besides Etihad Airways which is offering discounts to its passengers since last week, Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Silk Air are offering Rs 2,000 worth vouchers to shop, dine and giving free access to their transit lounge to attract passengers. Qatar Airways is offering special discounts to Indian students on top of the routine concessions.
Early this month, Indian lowcost carrier, Spicejet had sprung a surprise on the market by offering a one-way all inclusive fare at Rs 2013 to most of its domestic destinations with 10 lakh seats for a limited period.
Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia of aviation-think tank, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said the Emirates strategic pricing will have an impact on other airlines.
"Emirates have an unbelievable network across nations. Their strategic network outside India is robust and their fare pricing will have an impact on all other airlines. Other airlines will sooner or later have to revise their fares," said Kaul.
Kaul said that fares have almost doubled in the last one year owing to high operational costs.
"The Emirates pricing reflects the seasonal impact as the lean period starts from mid-January and extends till April-end. This is the time where Emirates have decided to fill in unsold seats by slashing fares. It is a tactical, short-term and well directed move that will stimulate the market," he added.
Courtesy: Mail Today
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