Airlines ‘squeeze’ Gulf-bound Malayalis after Onam, fares surge fivefold

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Airlines are charging steeply inflated fares from Kerala to Gulf countries for Malayalis returning after the Onam holidays, with ticket prices rising to four or five times the usual rates in the days following the festival.

As happens during every festive season, airlines are once again cashing in on the rush of expatriates returning to the Gulf. Airfares on Kerala-Gulf routes are currently as high as Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh during the peak return period.

Airfares are already elevated against the backdrop of the Iran-US conflict. Until August 20, economy-class tickets from Thiruvananthapuram to Abu Dhabi are available for less than Rs 30,000, while fares on the Kochi-Dubai route are at a similar level.

However, by August 30, fares on the Thiruvananthapuram-Abu Dhabi and Kochi-Abu Dhabi routes had climbed to as much as Rs 1.10 lakh.

Earlier, tickets were usually available from around Rs 6,000. Following the outbreak of the war, fares increased by four to five times. The additional surge during the Onam season has further pushed up prices.

Airlines are reportedly factoring in the rush after the Onam holidays, as well as the end of the vacation period in the Gulf and the reopening of schools there.

Interestingly, fares from Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru have not witnessed a comparable increase during the same period. Tickets from these cities are up to 40 per cent cheaper than those from Kerala.

Travel industry representatives said the sharp increase appears to be driven by the expected return of Malayalis to the Gulf. In contrast, fares for travel from the Gulf to Kerala during the same period remain relatively low, ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 22,000.

Kerala Association of Travel Agents state president KV Muraleedharan and general secretary Victor Fernandes urged Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Kerala MPs to intervene and protect Malayalis from what they described as excessive airfares.