Fly, see the world for peanuts

Flying abroad has become cheaper. Now, you can buy a return ticket to Bangkok, Dubai or Singapore for as little as Rs9,999, about half the current fare.

The deal is being offered by IndiGo, which is starting overseas flights. Last year, Air Asia offered Kuala Lumpur return fares at around Rs7,000 when it was launching its services.

With more low-cost carriers entering specific sectors with lucrative promotional fares, foreign vacations seem likely for many Indians. Travel agents expect lower pricing as more players enter the fray.

IndiGo’s rival SpiceJet will also be announcing sectors for its second round of global expansion in September. SpiceJet is currently offering a promotional offer on one of its international routes — Colombo-Chennai — at Rs5,930 for a round trip.

Similarly, Singapore Airlines has introduced a package of around Rs25,000 for a Mumbai-Hong Kong round trip. The airline has also started attractive return fare packages for destinations such as Tokyo, Melbourne and Los Angeles varying from Rs35,000 to Rs59,000.

Travel agency sources expect current promotional fares will encourage travellers to opt for foreign destinations.

“What IndiGo would get is a very small seat capacity to dictate terms in the market, but weekday prices could be hit. We might see a fare correction of 5-10% by other airlines by July-end,” said Anoop Kanuja, director, Bhatija Travels.