Ticket prices hiked from 12,000 to 50,000; Airline companies looting expats; strange reason given as explanation

KOZHIKODE: Expatriates returning to the Gulf after vacations, expatriates and families travelling back home for Onam. It's a busy time for airlines overall. If the ticket price after August 15 is checked, it can be noticed that it has been increased by up to five times. Tickets to the Gulf sector which used to cost 12,000-15,000 cost 50,000 and upwards now.

In the current scenario, the ticket price hike after August 15 is expected to continue till the Onam season. This keeps happening every year. If a Kannur-Doha travel ticket is only 15,000 before the 25th of this month, it will double to 32,000 after the 25th. An Air India Express ticket to Bahrain on August 27 costs Rs 54,145. The usual fare to Bahrain is between INR 15,000 and INR 17,000.

48,000 for a ticket to Jeddah on the 28th, which normally costs between 25,000 to 28,000 rupees. A ticket to Riyadh on the 25th is priced at Rs 38,846. A ticket to Riyadh usually costs up to INR 16,000. It is likely to increase further during Onam. The Kerala government and MPs from the state have raised this issue before the central government several times but there has been no result.

The airlines have the authority to decide the fares. A dynamic pricing system, where prices increase according to demand, has been in place for ages. Booking in advance also will not work. No matter how far in advance passengers try to book the ticket, the fare will be higher depending on the date. The airline companies continue this loot on the whimsical excuse of market trend.