International summer travel costs soar as airlines hike fares

PUNE: International travel costs are soaring and travellers are facing a challenge sticking to their budgets for the coming summer vacations, travel companies have said.

Many airlines are charging a lot more for flights to popular foreign destinations in the summer than in previous years, with airfares to Europe and USA seeing a particularly significant increase.

"Last year, an India-Europe round trip cost Rs50,000- 60,000. This year, it has surged to Rs80,000-90,000. Similarly, a round trip to the US has gone up from Rs1 lakh-1.2 lakh to even Rs2 lakh now," Mehboob Shaikh, chairman of the Travel Agents Association Of India Pune chapter and director of Travel Elect India, told TOI.

Shaikh said airfare to the the Middle and Far East ranges from Rs 25,000-40,000 for a round trip and to Australia is Rs1.2 lakh-1.3 lakh from Rs90,000-1 lakh.

Shaikh added, "It seems unlikely that these fares will decrease. Demand for seats has exceeded supply, and airlines have yet to resume pre-pandemic schedules. The government should consider opening up more slots for international airlines in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, and keep Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Ahmedabad as backup options."

Nikhil Thakurdas, CEO of Odyssey Tours and Travels, surmised that airfares to international destinations are currently 60-100% higher than pre-Covid times. "This could also be due to less seats on popular routes amid unrestored flight frequencies. Other aspects include higher jet fuel prices and longer flying routes due to closure of airspace over Russia amid the war with Ukraine. There is enough demand from travellers, so airlines feel no need to reduce prices," he said.

Thakurdas added, "Travellers are rationalizing plans as per budget. While some may change the destination and choose cheaper options like Thailand, Vietnam and Mauritius, others may opt for a cheaper airline. Travellers are also looking for the best value by being more open to travel during weekdays when airfares are relatively cheaper. Some are also flying via transit hubs as direct flight options are usually more expensive. A few are opting to try out new airlines that offer cheaper airfares."

Interestingly, domestic travel may suddenly prove to be a fallback. Rishikesh Pujari, director of Vihar Travels, said, "The surge in airfares to global destinations is a major concern for travellers who had eagerly planned their summer trips. Travellers are now looking for alternatives to their preferred destinations or making compromises in their plans to suit their purse. On the contrary, airfares to domestic destinations are nearly 20% lower than the same period last year."

Shaikh said airfare to the the Middle and Far East ranges from Rs 25,000- 40,000 for a round trip and to Australia is Rs1.2 lakh-1.3 lakh from Rs90,000-1 lakh. Shaikh added, “It seems unlikely that these fares will decrease. Demand for seats has exceeded supply, and airlines have yet to resume prepandemic schedules. The government should consider opening up more slots for international airlines in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, and keep Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Ahmedabad as backup options.” Nikhil Thakurdas, CEO of Odyssey Tours and Travels, surmised that airfares to international destinations are currently 60-100% higher than pre-Covid times. “This could also be due to less seats on popular routes amid unrestored flight frequencies.

Other aspects include higher jet fuel prices and longer flying routes due to closure of airspace over Russia amid the war with Ukraine. There is enough demand from travellers, so airlines feel no need to reduce prices,” he said. Thakurdas added, “Travellers are rationalizing plans as per budget. While some may change the destination and choose cheaper options like Thailand, Vietnam and Mauritius, others may opt for a cheaper airline. Travellers are also looking for the best value by being more open to travel during weekdays when airfares are relatively cheaper.

Some are also flying via transit hubs as direct flight options are usually more expensive. A few are opting to try out new airlines that offer cheaper airfares.” Interestingly, domestic travel may suddenly prove to be a fallback. Rishikesh Pujari, director of Vihar Travels, said, “The surge in airfares to global destinations is a major concern for travellers who had eagerly planned their summer trips. Travellers are now looking for alternatives to their preferred destinations or making compromises in their plans to suit their purse. On the contrary, airfares to domestic destinations are nearly 20% lower than the same period last year.”