A bonanza awaits Indian travellers to Southeast Asia and the Gulf in the coming Christmas season. Airlines have come out with promotional return fares and additional flights to these destinations to cater for Indian tourists.
Cathay Pacific has announced special "super-saver" fares to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. It has priced a Delhi-Hong Kong ticket at Rs 13,999 and a Mumbai-Hong Kong ticket at Rs 11,999.
A Mumbai-Bangkok ticket is for Rs 8,888 and Mumbai-Singapore is for Rs 9,999.This offer is valid till December 18, while travel to these destinations has to take place by January 31, 2006.
The airline has also decided to press into service additional flights to Mumbai and Delhi during December and January to catch the rush to South Asia. It will also operate an additional flight between Mumbai and Dubai from December 12 to February 1, 2006.
Singapore Airlines has announced additional services on the Delhi-Singapore sector for December and January to meet the rising demand for seats during the season. A Singapore Airlines executive said the airline was also offering complimentary one-night accommodation if immediate connections were available.
"Singapore Airlines has announced reduced fares to Singapore from Kolkata at Rs 7,200 and these fares are valid up to March 31. There are special holiday promotion deals for Southeast Asia and Australia from Mumbai. The airline is offering over 22 per cent discount for Singapore-Bangalore fares for the winter season. There are winter-special packages from Ahmedabad and Chennai too," the executive said.
State-owned Air-India, too, has launched a new marketing scheme for the season.
Its first and executive class passengers travelling between India and the US/the UK/Canada will get a complimentary executive class ticket for travel between India and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Dubai, or for a domestic sector in India.
The United Arab Emirates-based Emirates Airlines, key sponsor and the official carrier for the Dubai Shopping Festival, is offering special packages to all passengers irrespective of class of travel.
The special packages, valid from January 4 till February 4, start from $56 a person per night on a twin-sharing basis and provide customers with a choice of accommodation from a range of 21 select properties.
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2006 will take place between January 4 and February 4, 2006.
The Sharjah government's low-cost international airline, Air Arabia LLC, is offering fares lowered by over 20 per cent to 30 per cent to passengers for the shopping festival and is also offering visa assistance at a low fee.
According to Air Arabia Country Manager (India) Rohit Ramachandran, the airline is offering increased opportunities for Mumbaikars to travel to the UAE for the Dubai Shopping Festival.
