Low cost private airlines hike fares to cash on Air India strike

Private airlines led by low cost carriers have jacked up their fares by upto 50% on the Mumbai-Delhi sector in the wake of strike by a section of Air India pilots who are demanding pay parity and better working conditions.
   
The SpiceJet Mumbai-Delhi ticket was selling at Rs6255 today while the Bangalore flight fare was up Rs5275, much above the normal range of Rs3,000-4,000.
   
While low cost carrier IndiGo is said to be charging Rs6,234 for its Mumbai-Delhi afternoon flight, JetLite fares for the same route stood at Rs5,784.
   
Full-service carriers like Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways also followed suit and are cashing in on the market opportunity following the Air India pilot's strike.
   
The Mumbai-Delhi Kingfisher Airlines flight is costing Rs8,798 while Jet Airways hiked the ticket price to Rs6,785.
   
About 800 pilots belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines went on a strike early today demanding pay parity with Air India pilots and better working conditions, leading to cancellation of over 20 flights, including 11 from Mumbai and disruption of many others by several hours.
   
The Air India management has declared the strike illegal and derecognised the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) besides sealing its offices in Delhi and Mumbai.