Srinagar, Feb 12: With Valley under curfew for the fourth straight day today, the airfare on Kashmir route has drastically come down. Some airlines have reduced the fares as much as 40 to 50 per cent.
 The airfare from Jammu to Srinagar which was hovering around Rs 4000 a few days ago, has come down to just Rs 1700.
 Sources said the management of the air carriers operating on Kashmir route has got worried by the sharp decline in air traffic to Kashmir.
 “Due to decline in the air traffic to Kashmir, the airfare has reduced almost by 50 per cent which is not good indication for the aviation sector,” said executive of an air carrier.
 “If the things continue to be like this, we are afraid we may have to run the flights on this route on losses which is not a good sign for any company,” he said.
 He, however, expressed hope that the rates will improve to the normal in coming days. “Once the situation in the Valley gets back to normal, the air traffic will definitely improve that will simultaneously give impetus to airfare.”
 Meanwhile, the frequent flyers feel some relief with the decrease in the airfares. “It is good that the airfares have come down. But at the same time it is also true that it is just one or two companies who have reduced the fares. Other air carriers go with their high fares,” they said.
 “The fares were touching the sky. Whenever there is a slight tourist rush to the Valley, the air companies increase the fares,” Ajaz Ahmad of Srinagar said, adding that the frequent flyers had to face the brunt of hike in airfares.
 Pertinently, the tourism players here were alleging that the airliners operating on Kashmir route had hiked the fares at a time when the tourist rush to the Valley had started picking up.
 They said the airliners had hiked the future fares that would affect the arrivals in the upcoming season.
 “The travel websites display steep hike in airfares on the Valley route in the upcoming months,” they had said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST