AI lures vacationers with low-fare tickets

Close on the heels of private carriers starting a fare war, national carrier Air India on Wednesday brought down price of tickets close to the AC train fare by introducing advance purchase scheme ahead of summer holidays.

According to the scheme, people can get low-priced tickets if they book the flight in 60-days in advance. Air India’s primary targets are vacationers in the upcoming summer holiday season.
An all-inclusive 60-day advance purchase fare on Delhi-Mumbai route would cost Rs 3,981 while on Delhi–Lucknow route it would cost as low as Rs 2,566, an Air India release said.

It said the tickets can be purchased through travel agents, Air India website and booking offices for travel commencing around the middle of May onwards.

Air India’s move follows private carrier Jet Airways giving discounts on air ticket sale last month that sparked off an airfare war. Jet came up with a scheme to sell 20 lakh seats for Rs 2,250-3,800 each. Another private airline SpiceJet also launched a similar scheme in January. Analysts said the scheme may lure passengers from train to air travel and is likely to renew a price war among the airlines.