Flight fares on the rise: Survey

Chennai, May 31 (UNI) The overall published flight fares in India has risen by six per cent, according to a survey of the first quarter update of the American Express Business Travel Monitor, Asia Pacific.

The fares had risen by two per cent in the domestic sector, nine per cent in intra-Asia, one per cent in EMEA and 32 per cent in the Americas, the survey said.

However, on a quarter to quarter comparison, discount economy fares decreased by 11 per cent, which was expected to be a temporary trend. International airfares, mirroring the hike in domestic airfares, were rising. An increase in fuel prices had played the single largest role leading to this cost escalation, it said.

Since the beginning of the year, airlines have seen a jump of over 40 per cent in fuel costs alone.

The monitor that tracks a constant set of round trip airfares, all originating in the Asia Pacific region with destinations throughout the world, had over the years become an industry benchmark to track fluctuations.

Indian carriers have been focussing on taking their products to a global standard and working to consolidate the domestic market.

Their focus on international expansion was just beginning.

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