M’lore: International tag to airport likely to bring down fares

Mangalore, 05 Oct 2012 (TOI): The declaration of Bajpe airport as International airport by the Union cabinet on Thursday logically should open up the coastal skies to multiple carriers operating to various destinations.

 

This should cheer passengers as multiple operators will effectively bring down the prices of air fares to the Middle East sector currently monopolized by Air India Express (AIE). This may also open airlines to offer business class options for passengers, which hitherto was restricted to economy class.

 

At present, AIE operates flights to various destinations in the Middle East like Dubai (daily), Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Muscat (three times a week), Doha and Bahrain (once a week). A letter available with TOI, sent by Union civil aviation minister Ajit Singh’s office to Udupi-Chikmagalur MP K Jayaprakash Hegde states that Jet Airways has already applied for grant of traffic rights for Mangalore-Dubai sector effective from winter 2012, which is October end.

 

But a Jet Airways official was non-committal in saying that only after the proposal is considered by the ministry they could commit on operations. A Jet insider said the company’s all available aircrafts were put in Bangkok, Dubai and Bahrain sectors from various destinations in India, hence winter schedule operations is highly doubtful. Meanwhile, Air India officials here welcomed the move saying that they may contemplate operating full service carriers like the wide bodied Airbus 310 on this sector. Currently, AIE’s Boeing 737-800 carriers, which are operating in this sector, have a capacity for 186 and it is always full.

 

The fare ranges from a minimum of Rs 7,000 to a maximum of Rs 13,500. The lower bucket fares are available for the first 120 seats and thereafter the fares start going up. Entry of multiple carriers can keep the fares at an affordable Rs 10,000 to Rs 11,000 for late comers.