Airlines go for ‘arbitrary hike’ in Del-Sgr fares
In 3 days, rates up by 300% Tourism players say ‘ploy’ to keep away tourists, Students cry foul
Airlines operating in Jammu and Kashmir have increased fares by over 300 percent in the past few days, giving tough time to intending flyers and shooing away tourists.
The airfare from New Delhi to Srinagar was, some days back, hovering between Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 per passenger, but has skyrocketed within three to four days, much to dismay of people here.
Currently in Delhi-Srinagar segment, airfares for February 27 are priced between Rs 13000 to Rs 23000. The airfare of Indigo airlines is Rs 13,878, Spicejet Rs 20,278 and Air India Rs 20,204.
Similarly, on the same date airfares for Jammu to Srinagar segment are as: Go Air Rs 6,014, Indigo Rs 8,308, Spice jet Rs 14,707 and Air India Rs 17,818.
On Mumbai-Srinagar segment, the pattern is same. Indigo is selling air tickets in this segment at Rs 11,718 and Air India at Rs 20,976.
The rates have been increased at a when most Kashmiris—who reside outside the state during winter months—are returning back as schools are re-opening from first week of March.
According to sources, the airlines are taking undue advantage of return of Kashmiris back home during this time around as also the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway.
“It is a routine ploy used by airlines operating in J&K to increase fares when people are coming back to the Valley and highway remains closed. It is oft-repeated trick to grab money from gullible customers who have no other alternative than to avail their overcharged services,” said Shahid Banday, a businessman.
According to tourism players, the influx of backpackers had started to pick up post-floods as snowfall attracts tourists to the Valley. “But skyrocketing of fares is shooing away tourists who prefer to visit Himachal Pradesh and other places instead of Kashmir,” they said.
Similarly traders related to tourism said the problems of tourism sector compound whenever airlines arbitrarily increase airfares. “We are always at the receiving end due to unregulated hikes in airfares. It keeps away tourists and also makes difficult for us to encourage them to come to Kashmir because travel to foreign destinations is much cheaper,” said President Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir, Rauf Tramboo.
Talking to us, Director, Srinagar International Airport, Rahesh Shindey said the AAI is concerned only with ensuring facilities at the airport. “We have nothing to do with increase in airfares,” he said.
A senior official of DGCA said increase in airfare is a “global phenomena.”
“It is mostly determined by demand and supply, but regulating airfares is a policy decision which could be taken only after there is broader consensus between airlines and regulating agencies,” he said.
A senior executive of Spice Jet explained that fares are determined by demand and supply. “If you book tickets days ahead the rates will be much lesser and if you go for booking on the same date you plan to travel, rates would be much higher,” he said.
