Onam return rush: Airlines continue to charge hefty fares from Gulf-bound expats

MALAPPURAM: Airlines continue to charge steep fares from expats returning to the Gulf after the Onam holidays, with no signs yet of ticket prices coming down. The return journey of most expats is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Even those who returned early after getting only a few days of leave had to shell out huge amounts for their tickets. Airfares are expected to return to normal only by the first week of October.

Airlines have attributed the fare surge to service cuts and longer travel times amid security concerns in West Asia. However, the sharp increase is largely seen on Gulf-bound flights from Kerala, while tickets from the Gulf to Kerala remain available at much lower prices. This has created a huge fare disparity between flights operating in opposite directions on the same routes.

Huge disparity in ticket fares

An Air India Express ticket from Thiruvananthapuram to Abu Dhabi costs Rs 63,851 today and Rs 43,578 tomorrow. In contrast, a ticket from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram costs just Rs 13,399 today. Low fares are available for flights from Abu Dhabi to Kerala throughout this month.

Similarly, a ticket from Kochi to Dubai costs Rs 60,451 today and Rs 48,675 tomorrow. However, passengers travelling from Dubai to Kochi can get a ticket for just Rs 13,566. On the Kozhikode-Sharjah route, the fare stands at Rs 59,145 today and Rs 42,880 tomorrow. In comparison, a ticket from Sharjah to Kozhikode is available for Rs 12,400. Foreign airlines are charging even higher fares than Air India Express on these routes during this period.