Foreign airlines join in offering discounts on Independence Day

Indian and global carriers are offering limited period discounted fares to attract flyers from New Delhi on the occasion of the 68th Independence Day.

A number of foreign carriers are offering discounted tickets to the outbound Indian passengers, ranging from 32 per cent to a minimum of 20 per cent.

Not to remain behind, Indian carriers Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Go Air are also offering low fare tickets to the flyers. While British Airways (BA) is offering 15 per cent discount on its first and business class from India to the UK and USA, its competitor Virgin Atlantic has come up with a

'Freedom offer', under which passengers planning a trip to the UK this season would have to pay just 68 per cent of the base fare when booking in premium economy and upper class.

The BA's four-day special offer starts from August 11 to 14 for an outbound travel period on or before December 31, while travellers booking in premium economy in Virgin would be gifted with an additional Rs 6,800 off on the total fare. Its tickets are up for grabs till August 14 with travel valid up to November 30.

European carrier Air France-KLM was also offering discounted tickets to outbound Indian passengers with the launch of a limited period 20 per cent discount scheme on Air France, KLM and Delta flights.

Similarly, Qatar Airways was offering up to 25 per cent off on economy class and premium cabin fares to a wide variety of destinations.

The promotion would run till August 15 and offers flyers to travel to a variety of destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas at very attractive fares.

Not wanting to lag behind, no-frill carrier SpiceJet has announced special fares of Rs 1,947 for travel across India. The booking is open till 2359 hours of August 14 for travel between September 1 and December 15.

Low cost carrier, Go Air, is also giving an off of Rs 680 on the base fare.

Jet and Etihad Airways were the first among the airlines to woo Indian travellers with low ticket prices, with a 20-50 per cent discount on the two carriers' combined network of 135 overseas destinations.