Flying to foreign destinations to get more costly

Flying abroad this holiday season is set to bite into your budget more than you thought. Air India has increased the fuel surcharge of flights to North America and Europe by $20 (around Rs 1,100) for a one-way ticket and $40 (Rs 2,200) for a return ticket. Flights to Seoul, Bangkok and Singapore will pay $10 (Rs 550) and $20 (Rs 1,100) more for a one-way and return ticket, respectively. The new charge will be applicable on all tickets sold from Wednesday and other airlines are set to follow suit too.

"Airlines hike fuel surcharge in a staggered manner. AI has done it and others will follow suit. But the gap between the announcements may be more this time as Competition Commission of India chief Ashok Chawla is likely to meet Air Deccan founder G R Gopinath this week to see if the latter's complaint of airlines acting as a cartel and hiking fares simultaneously merits an inquiry," said a leading travel agent who did not wish to be identified.

The fuel surcharge hike comes at a time when fares are anyway high on the international side, which unlike domestic air traffic hasn't witnessed a slowdown. "Almost all international flights to and from India till January 15 are full and fares are very high because of the huge demand. For instance, Delhi-New York is around Rs 1 lakh in economy return at the moment while it usually costs Rs 70,000-80,000," said Anil Kalsi of the Society of Foreign Travel Operators (India chapter).


(Times Of India)