AI, Kingfisher reduce fares for domestic, international routes

MUMBAI: Air India and Kingfisher on Tuesday cut airfares by Rs 350-500 on each ticket in the domestic routes with immediate effect. The cut was even sharper ��� Rs 1,200-10,000 ��� for the international flights.

���Air India has withdrawn transaction fee of Rs 350 to Rs 10,000 per ticket on domestic and international routes,��� Air India said in a statement. A Kingfisher spokesperson confirmed the company���s move. Low-cost airlines SpiceJet had taken a similar step some time ago.

���The transaction fee was introduced effective from November 1 this year as per an agreement with travel agents,��� the spokesperson said.

However, this withdrawal of transaction fee is only for customers booking through Air India's offices or website or call-centre, the spokesperson added. The transaction fee was essentially reserved for the agents. The carriers started taking this fee after they stopped sharing commission with the travel agents.

Carriers have increased airfares five times since early this year on the plea of soaring prices of air turbine fuel.