Airfares skyrocket as SpiceJet hits turbulence

Flight operations of cash-strapped SpiceJet were grounded on Wednesday due to non-supply of jet fuel by oil marketing companies. File photo: V.V. Krishnan

Airfares shot up by 80-100 per cent on many routes as SpiceJet flights remained grounded during the first half of the day on Wednesday. Passengers who had to fly on short notice had to shell out an additional Rs. 10,000 for a ticket.

The cash-strapped airline resumed operations in the evening as oil companies eased restriction on fuel supplies to its aircraft.

Rival airlines made hay with tickets being sold for as high as Rs. 52,000 each on a Chennai-Mumbai flight this week. Soaring fares were the norm on many other routes as well.

“Right now, it is the passengers who are the most inconvenienced as last-minute fares have skyrocketed, and as we get closer to the Christmas and New Year break, we are likely to see fares soar even higher,” Sharat Dhall, president of Yatra.com, says.

In Chennai, SpiceJet cancelled its flight to Port Blair. “My flight to Andaman was cancelled today. I have to find an alternative or shell extra at the hotel where I was staying,” said one of the stranded passengers. Till date, SpiceJet has reduced the number of flights across its network from 332 to 239 daily. It has cancelled 1,861 flights till the month-end, which has affected passengers.

For the second day running, the Madurai airport lost SpiceJet connection with Chennai, Hyderabad and Colombo.

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