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Heavy rush to Gulf countries

A Correspondent

Though 2,000 seats are on offer a day, ticket is a prized commodity

NEDUMBASSERY: With schools in the Gulf countries set to reopen early next month, the Cochin international airport is witnessing a heavy outflow of passengers.

Since the start of August almost all airlines have been operating flights to the full capacity. According to airline sources, the trend will continue till the first week of September. With air tickets in the Gulf sector becoming a prized commodity, passengers who delayed their booking till the last minute under various compulsions are now running helter-skelter.

Now Air India, Emirates Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, SriLankan Airlines and Mahan Air cater for the Gulf-bound passengers. Besides, there are Air-India Express and Air Arabia, which offer low fares. Air-India Express is expected to augment its services soon. The Kuwait-based low-cost carrier Al-Jazeera Airways, which is expected to launch operations from Kochi later this month, may prove a boon to Kuwait-based Malayalis, as there is no budget carrier in this sector at present.

On an average, 2,000 seats are on offer daily in the Gulf sector. This number is proving insufficient. Tickets are not unavailable despite the fare hike in the range of 20-30 per cent effected by the airlines. According to an official with a reputed a travel agency, the hike in some sectors is as much as 50 per cent or more. Despite the increased fares, securing a ticket in the Gulf sector was a herculean task.

Aby George, Air-India's Public Relation Executive, says that the hike is not intended to reap higher profits but to subsidise off-season operations. Emigration officials are required to work more hours to ensure delay-free flight operations.

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Shriram Bharath is MD of CIAL

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