Bonanza for travellers as airlines slash fares

Domestic budget carriers SpiceJet, Indigo and GoAir have rolled out another sale offer with fares starting from Rs 1,699 for a limited period on domestic routes.

The travel period for the three-day sale, which commences from Tuesday, will remain valid between August 18 and September 30.

"Indian travellers have reason to rejoice this monsoon season with a new airfare sale valid for closer dates of travel - August and September this year. SpiceJet has announced fares starting Rs 1,999, while Indigo sales start at Rs 1,699 for select sectors," travel portal MakeMyTrip co-founder and chief executive for India Rajesh Magow said.

With popular destinations such as Goa, Guwahati, Port Blair, Dharamshala, Udaipur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi being served under these promotions, MakeMyTrip expects travellers to make use of this limited-period offer, he said.

There is good news for international travellers, too, as SpiceJet has announced introductory fares to Kathmandu from Bagdogra and Kolkata starting August 13 for the first 1,000 seats on a first come-first served basis, he said.

The fresh sale offer by the low-cost carriers for flights across sectors is aimed at boosting travel during the lean period between the long weekends in August and October on account of Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti holidays," Yatra.com president Shara Dhull said.

This is an excellent offer for someone who wants to take a quick break before the high fares of the festive season, he said.

Domestic carriers are on low fares spree, starting this January with the Chennai-headquartered SpiceJet first announcing an up to 50 per cent discount to beat the lean season at that time and also mop up cash for working capital.

The move was followed by other domestic carriers, including the full service airlines Air India and Jet Airways. Since then these carriers, mainly the budget ones, have been launching one after another low fare schemes. 

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