<p>Even as the erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots intensified their strike while ignoring the stay order of the Delhi High Court, the rival airlines began jacking up their fares from Wednesday morning when the strike began. <br /><br />The pilots, owing allegiance to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), and who belong to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, are demanding pay parity with AI pilots who mostly fly international routes.<br /><br />The lowest fare from Delhi to Mumbai for Friday was priced at Rs 5,303 per ticket on Thursday, while the same ticket cost Rs 4,858 on Wednesday. <br /><br />The lowest Delhi-Mumbai Air India fare for Friday on Thursday was Rs 6,858. On some sectors, the hike was as much as 50 per cent, a travel agent said, adding “most of the airlines are taking advantage of the strike”. <br /><br />However, SpiceJet and Jet Airways denied this, saying there was no hike in their fares due to the AI pilots’ strike. With the summer rush already on, many passengers could not even get tickets on other airlines for their destinations.<br /><br />AI announced it would not levy any cancellation or refund fee on passengers affected by the ongoing strike by a section of its pilots. <br /><br />“In the event of flight disruptions/cancellation/ combination/delay of over an hour, full refund will be given to passengers, irrespective of the fare rules,” the airline said.<br />At least 100 flights were cancelled — 30 of them in Delhi alone — as harried travellers scrambled to find alternative flights. While many were not lucky, those who could get booking had to shell out exorbitant fares.<br /><br />Harassment of the passengers continued as the pilots intensified their two-day old strike which is likely to gather force on Friday. </p>.<p> Bangalore's mess</p>.<p>Nine AI flights from Bangalore cancelled on Thursday<br />Ten AI flights operated from Bangalore International Airport<br />All passengers accommodated on other flights, claims AI management<br />City travel agents said air travellers flocked to other private airlines </p>
<p>Even as the erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots intensified their strike while ignoring the stay order of the Delhi High Court, the rival airlines began jacking up their fares from Wednesday morning when the strike began. <br /><br />The pilots, owing allegiance to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), and who belong to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, are demanding pay parity with AI pilots who mostly fly international routes.<br /><br />The lowest fare from Delhi to Mumbai for Friday was priced at Rs 5,303 per ticket on Thursday, while the same ticket cost Rs 4,858 on Wednesday. <br /><br />The lowest Delhi-Mumbai Air India fare for Friday on Thursday was Rs 6,858. On some sectors, the hike was as much as 50 per cent, a travel agent said, adding “most of the airlines are taking advantage of the strike”. <br /><br />However, SpiceJet and Jet Airways denied this, saying there was no hike in their fares due to the AI pilots’ strike. With the summer rush already on, many passengers could not even get tickets on other airlines for their destinations.<br /><br />AI announced it would not levy any cancellation or refund fee on passengers affected by the ongoing strike by a section of its pilots. <br /><br />“In the event of flight disruptions/cancellation/ combination/delay of over an hour, full refund will be given to passengers, irrespective of the fare rules,” the airline said.<br />At least 100 flights were cancelled — 30 of them in Delhi alone — as harried travellers scrambled to find alternative flights. While many were not lucky, those who could get booking had to shell out exorbitant fares.<br /><br />Harassment of the passengers continued as the pilots intensified their two-day old strike which is likely to gather force on Friday. </p>.<p> Bangalore's mess</p>.<p>Nine AI flights from Bangalore cancelled on Thursday<br />Ten AI flights operated from Bangalore International Airport<br />All passengers accommodated on other flights, claims AI management<br />City travel agents said air travellers flocked to other private airlines </p>