International air tickets to become costlier with oil price rise

On the domestic routes, the recent hike in airfares can be attributed to an increase in bookings, according to travel industry officials. In January, during the third Covid wave, domestic airfares crashed with a drop in demand

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Airfares to international destinations have gone up along with the rise in oil prices following the Russia-Ukraine crisis, reported PTI. However, on the domestic routes, the recent hike in airfares can be attributed to an increase in bookings, according to travel industry officials. In January, during the third Covid wave, domestic airfares crashed with a drop in demand.

Currently, airfares are capped up to 15 days, so airlines offered dirt cheap tickets for travel two weeks out. That is, if one booked a fortnight earlier from the date of travel, ticket prices would be cheaper.

“Some of the international carriers were fast enough to increase their airfares due to the fuel price increase during this week and the same is expected to rise further, in an event the fuel prices go up more. The domestic fares have yet to see the impact of the fuel price rise. The current jump in airfares within India is seen due to the increased passenger load factor on flights.”

— Jay Bhatia, Vice-President, Travel Agents Association of India

Till recently, the report said, a Mumbai-Delhi return ticket booked 15 days or more in advance would cost INR 5,500, but now it costs INR 10,500. Similarly, the cheapest 15-day advance purchase return fare on the Mumbai-Kochi flights was priced around INR 4,300; it costs over INR 15,000 now. Fares on travel within 15 days are much higher.

“Some of the international carriers were fast enough to increase their airfares due to the fuel price increase during this week and the same is expected to rise further, in an event the fuel prices go up more. The domestic fares have yet to see the impact of the fuel price rise. The current jump in airfares within India is seen due to the increased passenger load factor on flights,” said Jay Bhatia, Vice-President, Travel Agents Association of India.

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