Now Reading: Airlines hike Kerala-Gulf fares 15x for Onam return rush
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Airlines hike Kerala-Gulf fares 15x for Onam return rush
Airlines have jacked up ticket prices from Kerala to the Gulf by 10 to 15 times the normal fare for the last week of August. An average ticket on August 30 costs…
The Story in Brief
Airlines have jacked up ticket prices from Kerala to the Gulf by 10 to 15 times the normal fare for the last week of August. An average ticket on August 30 costs between ₹80,000 and ₹1.5 lakh, The Hindu reports. For instance, a Kochi, Sharjah economy ticket is ₹84,457, while a Thiruvananthapuram, Bahrain ticket costs ₹1,47,444 on that day.
In contrast, fares from the Gulf to Kerala remain in the ₹12,000, ₹22,000 range, only double the normal ₹6,000, ₹12,000. Travel agents say airlines are making windfall profits by targeting expatriates returning after Onam and school holidays. They have urged the Kerala government and MPs to press the Centre to rein in the carriers.
The Indian Opinion
Some will call this simple supply-and-demand, but the data points to something sharper. Fares from Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai to the Gulf are 40% lower than from Kerala on the same dates. That suggests airlines are not just responding to demand but actively targeting a captive passenger base. The real test will be whether the DGCA investigates fare algorithms for abuse of market power during festive seasons.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
