Flying on cheap wings

Globetrotters can start packing their bags because international air fares have begun to drop dramatically, thanks to the latest offerings by lowcost carriers (LCCs). In fact, travelling to foreign hotspots, such as Kuala Lumpur, Sharjah and Singapore, will be much cheaper than catching a flight from Delhi to Mumbai. So, you can now book an Air Asia flight from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur for Rs 4,100, compared with Rs 7,836 that Air India charges. An Air Arabia flight to Sharjah from Delhi costs only Rs 7,659, while Jet Airways charges Rs 11,217.

While international LCCs, such as Air Asia and Air Arabia, are already flying from the country, FlyDubai, will start operations soon. Some Indian LCCs, such as SpiceJet and Indigo, have also been granted permission to fly abroad.

The LCCs are launching shorthaul international routes to Southeast Asian and West Asian countries, with up to 50 per cent lower fares than the existing ones. This is tempting customers to flock to the ticketing counters. The percentage of seats being offered by LCCs on international routes has gone up from 3 per cent to 10 per cent in the past year and is expected to account for up to a quarter of the seats over the next few years.

According to Kapil Kaul, CEO, Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation, the low fares will not only create a new market for cost-conscious flyers but will also put pressure on fares and increase competition among full-service carriers. This is good news for travellers, who can now log in more miles at the same price.