Flights resume with unchanged fares

With a slash in Air Turbine fuel (ATF) prices, most Airlines that had withdrawn flights from various sectors in July citing less passenger traffic have resumed their services.

With a slash in Air Turbine fuel (ATF) prices, most Airlines that had withdrawn flights from various sectors in July citing less passenger traffic have resumed their services.

The ATF contributes nearly 40 per cent of airlines’ operating costs. The current reduction in its prices comes after two straight hikes during July and August. Domestic carriers are expected to lose $2 billion in the current financial year mainly on account of soaring fuel prices.

For consumers, however, it is not celebration time yet. Leading domestic airlines, including national carrier Air India, have ruled out any revision in fares at the moment.

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“No fare cuts are being planned at the moment,” said an Air India official. Air India that had temporarily withdrawn its flight to Bagdogra has already resumed the service from September. It also plans to operate its daily flight to Port Blair after September 30.

Delhi-based SpiceJet that had temporarily withdrawn flights to Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad, has decided to operate the Delhi flight from September. “The Hyderabad flight still remains suspended,” said a SpiceJet official.

“We are not looking at any fare cuts now. ATF prices are volatile. We need at least 2-3 months of stable ATF prices before we go back and review current prices,” said Samyukth Sridharan, Chief Commercial Officer, SpiceJet Limited.

Naresh Goyal-owned Jet Airways had raised base fares by 10 per cent in August.

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The airline is planning to operate its early morning flight to Delhi from the last week of September, but has no plans for any fare cuts at the moment.

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