Four-fold increase in ticket rates during Eid al-Adha holiday: Airlines preying on expatriates; check ticket rates till 16th of June

Thursday 13 June, 2024 | 8:33 PM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

MALAPPURAM: With airlines increasing ticket prices more than four times in view of the Eid al-Adha holiday, expatriates' journey home is in crisis. More people were preparing to return home as it is hot in the Gulf.

Ticket rate increase is more in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar sectors. A family of four needs more than Rs 2 lakh to reach Kerala from Kuwait on Air India Express. The ticket price is Rs 55,000 per person. Meanwhile, one can get a ticket from Kerala to Kuwait for Rs 10,000.

Travel agencies booking tickets in bulk under the guise of group tickets has also led to an increase in fares. Airlines negotiate fares with agencies months in advance and issue tickets under the guise of group tickets. With this, the number of tickets available on the websites will decrease and the demand will increase. Companies can increase fares on remaining tickets as they see fit. When the season begins, the agencies will sell the hoarded tickets at extortionate rates.

Ticket rate till 16th of June

(Air India Express)

Kuwait - Kozhikode ......................... 53,000 - 55,000

Kozhikode - Kuwait .......................... 10,000 - 12,000

Jeddah - Kozhikode ........................................ 54,000 - 58,000

Kozhikode - Jeddah ........................................ 12,650 - 13, 600

Dubai - Kozhikode ............................... 33,000 - 43,500

Kozhikode - Dubai .............................. 6,900 - 7,300

Abu Dhabi - Kochi ................................... 28,500 - 30,500

Kochi - Abu Dhabi ................................... 8,500 - 9,700

Doha - Kochi ............................................ 49,500 - 54,000

Kochi - Doha ............................................ 9,500 - 12,000