Kochi: Now it is cheaper to fly to the US and the UK when compared to the airfare to the Gulf countries during the Onam season. When one can fly to the UK at Rs 25,000 and the US at Rs 35,000, the nearest destination Gulf costs Rs 40,000. The domestic air fares too have been increased by as much as four times in order to fleece the passengers. The non-availability of seats and high demand during the season prompt the airline companies to reap the profit. According to P Rajeev MP, the exploitation of the hapless passengers by the airline companies had been brought to the notice of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh. And the MPs from Kerala had urged the Centre to increase the number of flights on the Gulf sector and to make available tickets at reasonable rates during the peak Onam season.
Travel Agents Federation of India(Kerala) chairman, Paulose K Mathew said that the one- way fares for Singapore is Rs 15,000 and Malaysia Rs 12,000, while those for the UK and the US are Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 respectively. When compared to these fares, travel to the Gulf region now costs between Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 which is exorbitantly high. Mathew said that usually there is a high demand during the Onam season and almost 80 per cent of the seats would be sold out much earlier. For the remaining 20 per cent, a higher amount will be charged as it is the time when the Malayalis get back to the Gulf countries after their summer vacation.
08/09/13 Byju Aryad/New Indian Express
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Travel Agents Federation of India(Kerala) chairman, Paulose K Mathew said that the one- way fares for Singapore is Rs 15,000 and Malaysia Rs 12,000, while those for the UK and the US are Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 respectively. When compared to these fares, travel to the Gulf region now costs between Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 which is exorbitantly high. Mathew said that usually there is a high demand during the Onam season and almost 80 per cent of the seats would be sold out much earlier. For the remaining 20 per cent, a higher amount will be charged as it is the time when the Malayalis get back to the Gulf countries after their summer vacation.
08/09/13 Byju Aryad/New Indian Express
