Cooling fuel prices coupled with the global recession is ringing in the good times for Indian jetsetters. Dubai-based carrier Emirates Airlines becomes the latest to announce revised fares for the ten routes it operates out of India.
Under the revised fare, the return economy class prices from Delhi to Dubai and London will be Rs 15,490 and Rs 20,990 respectively, down from earlier Rs 18,495 and Rs 29,995. Delhi to New York fare has also been reduced from Rs 49,995 to Rs 39,990. The new fares are available for all bookings made in India with immediate effect.
?We believe it is the right time to revise our fares and pass on the benefit of lower fuel prices to our passengers,? said Orhan Abbas, vice-president of Emirates. ?The fares will not only stimulate travel but also allow passengers to plan their journey in the months ahead. Furthermore, this initiative reinforces our commitment to the Indian market,? added Abbas.
The airline has also introduced competitive economy class airfares to other destinations including Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. Emirates was the first international carrier in India to incorporate fuel surcharge within the existing airfare and as a result doesn?t quote a separate fuel surcharge.
?No one is really formally announcing fare cuts for international flights as it happened in the case of domestic flights,? said Dhruv Shringi, CEO, Yatra.com. ?Only Singapore Airlines announced competitive fares recently,? he added.
Leading airlines in the country are offering buy-one-get-one free tickets on their international routes. ?We are talking to them for offering the same on domestic routes to rebuild momentum in the sector,? said Subhash Goyal, chairman, Stic Travels.