Onam travel turns into plunder: Airfares to Gulf soar, private bus fares surge

MALAPPURAM: With Onam bringing Malayalis home from the Gulf and neighbouring states, the return journey is turning into a costly affair as airlines and private bus operators sharply hike fares.

Airfares to the Gulf have risen more than fivefold on some routes, leaving expatriates who need to return to work after the festival facing steep travel costs. Those travelling with their families are particularly affected, with a four-member family returning to Dubai having to spend more than Rs 3 lakh on air tickets.

Airlines have cited service reductions and longer travel times amid security concerns in West Asia as reasons for the fare increase. The situation has left expatriates under pressure to secure return tickets without risking delays that could affect their work.

Rs 10,000 to Kerala, Rs 82,000 to Gulf

On August 26, the day of Thiruvonam, an Air Arabia ticket from Dubai to Kochi costs Rs 10,344, while IndiGo and Etihad fares are Rs 11,673 and Rs 12,376 respectively.

The fares for the return journey from Kochi to Dubai on the same day are several times higher. Emirates is charging Rs 82,500, while Flydubai, Air Arabia, IndiGo and Air India Express are charging Rs 68,900, Rs 64,500, Rs 59,900 and Rs 58,500 respectively.
The lower fares for flights to Kerala have been attributed to lower passenger demand on those routes during the period.

Air India Express fares for August 26 to 29 show similar variations across Gulf routes. Kozhikode-Dubai tickets are priced between Rs 43,000 and Rs 72,000, while Kochi-Dubai fares range from Rs 44,500 to Rs 73,300. Kannur-Dubai fares are between Rs 48,500 and Rs 66,000, while Thiruvananthapuram-Dubai tickets cost Rs 46,500 to Rs 65,000.

Kozhikode-Jeddah fares range from Rs 42,200 to Rs 66,900, while Kozhikode-Doha tickets cost between Rs 50,478 and Rs 52,751. Kochi-Abu Dhabi fares range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 47,600, while Thiruvananthapuram-Abu Dhabi tickets cost Rs 38,500 to Rs 47,500.

Kozhikode-Abu Dhabi fares are between Rs 35,500 and Rs 42,500. Kochi-Riyadh tickets cost Rs 32,500 to Rs 36,000, while Thiruvananthapuram-Riyadh fares range from Rs 46,000 to Rs 50,000.

Foreign airlines are charging more than Rs 10,000 above Air India Express fares on some routes.

Private buses cash in on train ticket shortage

The fare surge is not limited to air travel. Private bus operators have also raised fares on routes from Kerala to Bengaluru and Chennai, taking advantage of the lack of confirmed train tickets following Thiruvonam.

On the Ernakulam-Bengaluru route, where fares normally range from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,600, passengers will have to pay between Rs 2,700 and Rs 3,200 on August 26.

AC sleeper fares on other routes are Rs 2,300-Rs 3,300 for Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru, Rs 1,600-Rs 2,100 for Kozhikode-Bengaluru, Rs 2,700-Rs 3,000 for Thiruvananthapuram-Chennai and Rs 2,700-Rs 3,500 for Kochi-Chennai.