Transaction fee withdrawn, air tickets get cheaper

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) India's three largest airlines today withdrew transaction fee on tickets, making flying cheaper by Rs 350 to Rs 10,000.

Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines have withdrawn the fee on tickets sold through booking offices, websites or call centres, their spokespersons said.

The other carriers are expected to follow suit.

The fee ranged from Rs 350 on a domestic economy ticket to Rs 1,200-10,000 on a first class ticket to Eurpoe or the US.

''We are withdrawing the transaction fee for tickets sold through our offices, airport counters or websites, effective today,'' a Jet spokeswoman said.

''For tickets booked directly with us through our website, call centre or city offices, there will be no transaction fee levied,'' a Kingfisher spokesman said.

Air India had yesterday announced that it was withdrawing the fee on domestic and international air tickets from today.

The move comes barely three days after Civil Aviation Minister Praful asked airlines to cut fares to reflect lower prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in recent weeks.

The system of transaction fee was introduced on November 1, 2008 at the instance of travel agents who were affected when airlines decided to withdraw commission paid to them.

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