New Delhi: Taking to the skies will now burn a big hole in your pocket as low-cost flying has virtually become a thing of the past. Domestic air fares have gone up by 25-40% in the past one month due to a combination of factors like Kingfisher cutting flights drastically; other carriers cashing in on the reduced supply and removal of upper limit of Rs 150 to be charged as service tax on domestic tickets from this month.
As a result, buying domestic air tickets for flying till June (when the peak travel summer holiday season ends) will remain a costly affair - with fares getting steeper for those who book closer to date of travel. For instance, a Delhi-Mumbai return ticket could now cost upto Rs 16,000, up from the earlier range of Rs 12,000-13,000. A Delhi-Kolkata flight will, on an average, cost Rs 7,700, up from the previous Rs 4,500.
In the holiday season, a hike of Rs 3,000-5,000 on a return ticket would mean an extra expense of up to Rs 20,000 for a family of four vacationers. Travel industry insiders say budget travellers are forced to opt for cheaper hotels to keep their holiday budget in control following the steep hike in airfares.
16/04/12 Times of India
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