New Delhi : Getting Shorthaul passengers back in planes from Shatabdis and deluxe coaches seems to be the clear aim for airlines as they finally start cutting their exorbitant fares. While Kingfisher and Air India (domestic) are yet to announce cuts, Jet’s lower fares that have come into effect recently are clearly indicative of this. Shorthaul routes – where people have attractive surface transport options – have seen the maximum cut.

Most long metro routes have seen a cut of Rs 250 as trains. The popular Delhi-Mumbai route will now have a lowest total fare slab of Rs 5,075, just Rs 250 down from the previous low of Rs 5,325. The Delhi-Bangalore route has also witnessed a similar cut. But closeby metros like Mumbai-Bangalore will see its lowest slab falling by over Rs 500.

 

So short sectors are the ones to get the best farecuts. For instance, Jet’s fares for Delhi-Udaipur sector will now begin at the lowest slab of Rs 2,825, Rs 1,750 down from the earlier Rs 4,575. Similarly, the basic fare on Mumbai-Ahmedabad will now start from Rs 500 which will be in addition to a taxes and surcharge of Rs 2,325. However, these are the lowest slabs of fares that would keep rising as a flight gets sold out.

 

Since this cut in basic fare comes within a month of all airlines cutting fuel surcharge by Rs 400, the overall fares have fallen anywhere from 4% to 20%.

 

AI (domestic) that’s yet to announce its farecut does not levy the congestion charge of Rs 150 unlike Jet and Kingfisher that do. LCCs like IndiGo and SpiceJet also don’t levy the congestion charge and are working on attractive fares.

 

“With the introduction of these special fares now lower by up to 40%, Jet customers will have one more reason to fly and experience its world class service, commencing this holiday season,” said a statement issued by the company.

 

FINE CUTS

Route	Jet’s old lowest slab	Lowest slab from Monday	Fall
Del-Mum, Del-Kol	Rs 5,325	Rs 5,075	4.7%
Del-Chennai, Del-Guwahati	Rs 5,925	Rs 5,675	4.2%
Del-Udaipur	Rs 4,575	Rs 2,825	38%
Del-Jaipur	Rs 3,425	Rs 2,825	17.5%
Del-Vadodara	Rs 5,550	Rs 4,075	27%

Source: JET