High fares go north, tourists go abroad

Bangalore: Soaring air fares are a huge dampener for travellers this winter. Domestic air fares have skyrocketed by 15%-20% in the past few months due to higher holiday season demand and limited supply.
Many travellers are preferring exotic overseas destinations over domestic getaways considering that the price differential is not much. "Many people are opting for international holidays destinations like Dubai, Thailand and Malaysia. Also, hotel tariffs in places like Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan can be much higher," said the head of relationship and supplier management at Cox & Kings Karan Anand.
Besides, new international airlines are wooing flyers with rock-bottom fares. For instance, Air Asia is offering a round-trip to Bangkok for Rs 7,000, that's almost the same price for a Bangalore-Goa ticket. Sometimes, deals to South-East Asian countries are better than a Bangalore-Kochi or Delhi-Goa ticket.
"It's definitely tempting for individuals to travel abroad than pick a local hotspot. Some airlines flying international routes have discounted their fares by as much as 35%," said executive director of Bird Group Ankur Bhatia.
Air travellers also miss out on great offers as they make last-minute bookings.
21/12/10 Shilpa Phadnis/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2010