(Image source from: Airfare war ensues cheaper tickets this summer})

Summer holidays could indeed become cheerful with the ongoing airfare war between the low-cost airlines and Air India. In an attempt to attract fliers, airlines on Tuesday declared upto 50% discounts for summer bookings.

The rush to attract fliers for summer, which happens to be the lean season, started last July and now it's the second such offer in six months. On Tuesday morning, SpiceJet started the airfare war by announcing discount sales on purchase of tickets 30-60 days in advance. Indigo and GoAir soon followed SpiceJet and extended the advance purchase window scheme to fliers, travel portals reported.

Sharat Dhall, Yatra.com president, said that airticket for a Delhi-Mumbai route is available at a price of Rs 3,355, which could cost as high as Rs 10,098 at spot fares. Travellers, who have been reeling under the high airfares, can now book tickets for their summer holidays at a reasonable price, said Dhall. He further added that the announcements have led to a 250% rise in ticket bookings, which is expected to increase after words related to the offer spreads.

Even Air India has come up with a short-term “Spring Sale” that provides upto 50% discount on domestic routes. Air India has announced its scheme to be open fromWednesday till January 24 and would be valid for traveleres from February 21 to April 15. Under the promotional scheme of Air India, fares would cost as low as Rs 1,357 (with taxes). The scheme will be applicable in all the domestic sectors in its network. An Agartala-Kolkata route airfare would cost Rs 1,385, Delhi-Mumbai fare would be Rs 2,830 and Delhi-Ahmedabad fare will be Rs 2,292. The fare includes taxes.

Jet Airways has no such plans of discount as of now, said a spokesperson of the carrier.

(Picture Source: farm3.staticflickr.com)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)