The much awaited New Year’s eve is round the corner. Each one of us would have prepared memorable trips itenaries, in advance to embark the New Year on a high note. But for those of you who are going to make last-minute plans to fly to another city, you could be engendering a big hole in your pockets. More so, if your weekend getaway destination is stationed in the Southern India, you are likely to be losing more bucks.
Surprisingly, on Friday, one-way tickets to Coimbatore, Madurai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram touched Rs 10,000 mark.
For those who had booked the tickets nearly a week ago, spent only about Rs.2500. For many who were fortunate also grabbed the tickets at a rate ranging from Rs. 3900 to Rs. 7200.
An official of an online ticket portal informed, “Ticket prices have increased by 50% to 80% on most routes.” There is currently a dearth of incentives and discounts due to sky-touching demand levels.
As there are plenty of last minute planners , the fares are likely to hit a higher range owing to the proliferated demand.
Incidentally, on a flight scheduled on a Chennai-Kochi route, only as less as one seat was available. The demand for flights has also risen partly due to the fact that no seat on the trains is vacant.
Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) national president D Sudhakara Reddy, “This is because there is no fare regulator in the country. DGCA does not have the expertise. Passengers are left to the mercy of airlines which determines fares based on demand and supply.”
Almost all schools and colleges have announced holidays, post Christmas. This has increased more chances of demand rise for air tickets, thereby increasing ticketing prices.
There are just three direct flights to Thiruvananthapuram, six direct flights to Kochi, nine flights to Madurai, 11 flights to Coimbatore and four flights to Trichy.
The Civil aviation ministry is thrusting on furthering connectivity between smaller towns, thereby making flights more affordable.
