Air India crisis: Indian private air carriers, foreign airlines hike fares

New Delhi: Indian private air carriers and foreign airlines have hiked fares and are virtually fleecing fliers as Air India (AI) cancelled most of its international flights on the ninth consecutive day of the pilots' strike on Wednesday.
Jet Airways and foreign carriers such as British Airways and Emirates are among the airlines which have jacked up fares despite Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) warning the airlines not to raise prices to unreasonable levels. While AI has kept fares at Rs 26,593 for a one-way ticket to London to attract passengers, it has been forced to book its fliers on Jet Airways and British Airways.
However, hapless passengers end up paying more than double the amount for the last-minute switch in flights. For instance, the fare for New Delhi-London route for May 20 for Jet Airways is as high as Rs 58, 571 one-way while that being clubbed by AI for British Airways it is touching Rs 85,241. In the case of Emirates, the fare is about Rs 78,665. Similarly, the Lufthansa's fare on the New Delhi-London route is Rs 82,198. Qatar and Etihad have lower fares ranging between Rs 36,000 and Rs 43,000.
17/05/12 Sanjay Singh/Business Today

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General May 2012