While British Airways is offering return fare of Rs 14,500 net ex-India to London, the British Midlands Airways has come up with a package of Rs 12,557 net.
NEW DELHI: If you haven't seen the Buckingham Palace as yet, get ready. It's time for your dreams of feasting on the wonders of the British capital and its enchanting countryside to come true this summer, as fares to the UK from India hit an all-time low.
While British Airways (BA) last week announced its plan to offer return fare of Rs. 14,500 net (excluding tax) ex-India to London, the British Midlands Airways (BMI) has come up with a package offering net return fare at an unbelievably low Rs. 12,557 net.
The rates have been amazing this season as till six months ago the net return fare on this route had been above Rs 30,000.
"Interestingly the fare is attracting a lot of people as it's an open ticket with validity for one year," says Sohel Kadri of Akbar Travel, tour package dealers operating in the western India market. The tickets can be bought by Feb 28 while the first onward journey has to be undertaken before May 31, 2006. The second phase would be valid for a year beginning from the date of purchase.
A week ago British Airways also launched a similar fare scheme in which the journey is required to commence before May 31. "These schemes are especially appealing to the families who have now started planning for their summer vacations in the UK."
Similar schemes with fares around the BA scheme are also being offered by other airlines, including Lufthansa.
Though the BA fare is slightly on the higher side, it includes travel to London from three destinations - Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi. Besides, the airline is also offering an extended visit to any location in the UK at an additional cost of Rs. 3,000.
The aggressive pricing however might put to test the Indian carriers Jet Airways and Sahara that have just started operation in this sector. However, senior Jet official A.K. Sivanandan says: "The pricing depends on the load factor of the carriers. As of now we do not feel the need to slash rates as bookings on our flights have been reasonably good."
A Delhi-based travel agent further corroborates Sivanadan's opinion. "The British airlines have not been doing too well on this route due to which they have restructured their pricing scheme." The Indian carriers have been offering return fares around Rs. 19,000.
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