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Fare wars: It's the best time to fly abroad!

September 16, 2014 08:30 IST

Initiating a fare war on global routes, Qatar Airways and Singaporean budget carrier Tigerair have announced massive limited-period discounts hoping to corner a chunk of the Indian travel market share.

While Tigerair announced a special one-way base fare of Rs 10 only to Singapore for Indian passengers to commemorate completion of decade-long operations, Qatar Airways launched a global promotional offer of up to 25 per cent savings on its tickets to over 140 destinations across the world.

Tigerair's Rs 10 one-way fare offer to Singapore would be applicable only on round trip tickets from India, under which the fare could be as low as Rs 7,499 including taxes, the airline said in a statement.

The Qatar Airways' promotional fare tickets under its three-day 'The World is Yours' global sale would have to be bought between today and Wednesday for travel from September 25 till June 15 next year, the airline said in a statement.

The discount of up to 25 per cent is being offered for return travel in all classes for travel from India via its Doha hub, a Qatar Airways statement said, adding that there were limited seats on offer subject to availability.

The airline connects 12 cities in India via Doha to an array of destinations like Barcelona, Dallas, London, Miami, New York, Paris, Rome and several others.

In the statement, its Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said, "Qatar Airways' global sale is eagerly awaited by our passengers and with up to 25 percent discount on return fares, there will never be a better time for our customers to plan leisure or business trips."

Tigerair's tickets which can be booked till September 21 would be valid for travel commencing January 12 to March 31, 2015, and July 21 to September 22, it said.

The airline was also offering special all-in return fares starting Rs 11,999 to destinations like, Bali, Jakarta, Perth, Manila, Hong Kong, Sydney, Gold coast via Singapore. Flights to Sydney and Gold Coast would be operated in collaboration with Scoot, another Singapore-based low-cost long-haul airline, the statement said.

The offers can be availed of on Tigerair's official website from any of the five cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Tiruchirappalli. Tigerair operates total 37 weekly flights to Singapore from six Indian destinations. 

Indian carrier Jet Airways also joined the fare war announcing a three-day special fare offer for all its guests "to enjoy the airlines globally renowned business class product at attractive unbeatable fares".

In a statement, a Jet spokesperson said 'The Great Premiere Experience' would be valid for travel on direct flights on the airline's domestic and international network. The offer will be available for worldwide sale from Tuesday for travel between October 16 and July 31 next year.

It would be available across Jet Airways' domestic destinations as also on several international destinations including Singapore, London, Toronto, Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong and Dammam.

Jet's Senior Vice President (Commercial) Gaurang Shetty said "This Great Premiere Experience is an excellent opportunity for all our guests to experience our business product, which is rated amongst the very best in the world, at very attractive fares."

Some illustrative international all-inclusive one way fares from Delhi and Mumbai would be Rs 18,672 for Delhi-Singapore, Rs 28,382 Delhi-London, Rs 44,688 Delhi-Toronto, Rs 27,727 Mumbai-Brussels and Rs 18,282 for Mumbai-Hong Kong.

Cheap business class travel was also on offer for several domestic sectors. 

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