Jet Airways launches flash sales of 10% discount on international sector
Mumbai – Two days after Indian airlines slashed fares by 50% on domestic routes, Jet Airways (India) Ltd, the country’s largest airline by passengers carried, cut fares by 10% for the economy class on its international network.
The discounted fares are for travelling between 1 February and 15 April and the offer is valid for booking from 24 to 26 January.
State-run Air India is expected to launch similar offers, travel agents said.
Jet Airways on Thursday joined the bandwagon of airlines offering discounts to stimulate the market and attract passengers in the lean season.
Jet introduced 30-day advance purchase fares on its all-economy class Jet Konnect flights, the airline said in a circular to travel agents. The sale period is 23-24 January.
All low-fare airlines, including IndiGo and GoAir, have announced sales on 3- to 60-day advance purchase windows.
On Tuesday, India’s second largest low-fare airline SpiceJet Ltd cut fares by more than half to fill seats during the lean season. State-run Air India announced a similar offer.
The promotions come as airlines enter the lean season after the peak October-December quarter when air traffic typically increases because of the festive season and year-end holidays.
India’s airlines are burdened by heavy debt and cumulative losses in the face of intense competition and high fuel costs that make up half of their operating expenses.
India’s airlines lost an estimated $1.95 billion in the last fiscal year on combined revenue of $9.5 billion due to high fuel and other operational costs, according to aviation consulting firm Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, or Capa. The debt of Indian airlines increased 8-9% in 2012-13 to an estimated $14.5 billion.
