Jet crisis: Other airlines hike fares

New Delhi: As the Jet pilot strike enters its third day, passengers across the country are facing problems. Not only has it become difficult to reach their destinations, private airlines have hiked airfares to as much as triple the amount.

"I went to spicejet to ask they said its Rs 22,000 per ticket to Cochin. I usually buy it for Rs 5,000," said one passenger whom CNN-IBN spoke to.

Another added, "I was told the ticket was for Rs 7,000 but within 10 minutes the same ticket shot up to Rs 20,000."

If you have booked on a Jet flight these days the chances of it being cancelled are very high. And if you still want to travel, it will cost you much more - at least in certain sectors.

On the Delhi-Mumbai sector Kingfisher is charging upto Rs 17,000 during peak hours for a ticket which otherwise costs Rs 4,500. Air India is charging upto Rs 14,000.

AIRLINE	REGULAR PRICE	PRICE ON THURSDAY
KINGFISHER	Rs 4,500	Rs 7,500-17,000
AIR INDIA	Rs 3,500	Rs 4,000-14,000

A Kingfisher Delhi-Bangalore ticket is peaking at Rs 18,000 versus the normal Rs 5,000. Air India is charging between Rs 6,000 and Rs 20,000.

AIRLINE	REGULAR PRICE	PRICE ON THURSDAY
KINGFISHER	Rs 4,500-5,000	Rs 7,000 - 18,000
AIR INDIA	Rs 4,500	Rs 6,000 - 20,000

Kingfisher, which usually charges Rs 4,500 on the Delhi-Chennai sector is now charging between Rs 6,000 and Rs 18,000. Air India's prices are also up.

AIRLINE	REGULAR PRICE	PRICE ON THURSDAY
KINGFISHER	Rs 4,500	Rs 6,000 - 18,000
AIR INDIA	Rs 4,000	Rs 6,500 - 20,000

Delhi-Kolkata now costs between Rs 7,000 and Rs 17,000 on Kingfisher and Air India charges upto Rs 18,000.

AIRLINE	REGULAR PRICE	PRICE ON THURSDAY
KINGFISHER	Rs 5,000	Rs 6,700 - 17,000
AIR INDIA	Rs 6,500	Rs 7,000 - 18,000

TAAI President, Rajji Ray says, "Their bottom lines are going to improve drastically. The more Jet Airways delays or drags sorting out the issue with pilots, it's going to be one hell of a ball for airlines. It has been so for two days and will be till the strike continues."

The only good thing is that low cost airlines are still quoting low fares.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of Jet Airways, Saroj Dutta said that a meeting of the Chief Labour Commissioner with Jet management and pilots had been adjourned till Friday because no one from the pilots' side turned up at the meet which was slated for Thursday.

President National Aviators Guild, Girish Kaushik, wants the four sacked pilots reinstated and blames the Jet management for the inconvenience faced by the passengers. The guild will also meet the management on Friday in New Delhi to sort out the deadlock.

"There is a reconciliation meeting at the Labour Commissioner's Office at 1100 hrs IST in Delhi on Friday with the Jet management," he said.

Airlines are exploiting the present situation and have hiked the fares to double even triple the actual amount. With thousands of customers being affected passengers are now crying foul and saying its high time that the Jet crisis be resolved.

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