Foreign carriers forced to offer promotional fares

NEW DELHI: Slackening demand even during the peak season is forcing foreign carriers to offer promotional fares. After Jet Airways announced special fare on India-London route and Malaysian Airlines cut down fuel surcharge, Emirates has launched ���kids go free��� offer to travellers flying from India to Dubai.

International air traffic fell 1.8% to 2.61 million in March this year over corresponding month last year. While the global slowdown has already hit hard air travels across the world, the recent outbreak of swine flu in Mexico further dented the aviation sector.

���Starting April 10 through June, domestic as well as international air traffic are its peak. While outbound traffic during this period is high, the inbound traffic is low. Unfortunately, outbound traffic is also low this time due to the recession forcing airlines to offer aggressive fares,��� said Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation head Kapil Kaul.

Malaysian Airlines has reduced fuel surcharge (a major component of airfare) by 53% for flights between India and Kuala Lumpur. Fuel surcharge on flights from India to Kuala Lumpur has been reduced $53 resulting in a return airfare from India to Malaysia starting from as low as Rs 16,528.