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Headline: Huge drop in air fares to Indian cities
Source: 18 Nov. 2004: The Peninsula (Qatar) at http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local%5FNews&subsection=Qatar+News&month=November2004&file=Local_News200411183258.xml
A drastic drop in the demand for airline seats and excessive capacity on most sectors, several carriers operating direct and indirect flights between Doha and destinations in India have dropped their fares considerably since yesterday.
Enquiries in the local travel market revealed that a return, Economy class ticket between Doha and Mumbai is available at prices starting from QR1,450 on direct and QR1,400 on in-direct carriers while a similar ticket between Doha and Cochin now costs QR1,800.
Taxes and other charges are applicable on these fares. According to industry sources, these low fares were being offered by some airlines without the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates the prices in a bid to prevent fare wars and ensure sufficient operating profits for the airlines.
Under the fare accord that went into force in July, a return, Economy class air ticket between Doha and Mumbai was priced at QR2,010 during the peak season and about QR1,900 during the off-peak season.
A similar ticket between Doha and Cochin was priced at about QR2,300 during the peak and QR2,100 during the off-peak season, without taxes and other charges. The CAA had warned airlines and travel agents that any violation of the stipulated fares would attract stiff cash penalties. At least three airlines were fined QR10,000 for every ticket sold below the fixed fares, after the accord went into force, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, sources pointed out that the drop in air fares between Doha and Indian cities was imminent as India adopts an Open Skies policy that would facilitate willing carriers to operate unlimited number of seats to any destination.
The number of India-bound passengers, they said, was not expected to increase correspondingly, which would force airlines to lower fares to attract people to travel.
================================ Forwarded by Eddie Fernandes
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