40% off on last-minute AI bookings: Domestic fliers rush to avail offer

MUMBAI: National carrier Air India (AI), which commenced its 40% discount scheme on domestic tickets booked three hours prior to departure, recorded a significant rise in bookings on 25 flights on Saturday, day 1 of the scheme.

This move is aimed at passengers travelling for emergency purposes who end up paying high prices while booking at the last minute. Airline sources said the scheme will improve AI’S passenger load capacity, currently 82%.

The decision to sell tickets at a 40% discount was taken during a commercial meeting at the airline’s headquarters in Delhi on Friday.

Some flights that saw last-minute bookings are AI 635- Mumbai to Indore, AI 678- Delhi to Mumbai, AI 676- Kolkata to Mumbai, and AI 626- Lucknow to Mumbai.

Under the scheme, a MumbaiIndore flight, which costs ₹4,000 will be available for ₹3,400 if booked three hours prior to departure and a Kolkata-mumbai flight, costing ₹6,000, will be available for ₹3,600. Airline officials said a majority of the flights booked during the three-hour period originated from Delhi. “A last-minute traveller, as per aviation market algorithms, has to pay 40% more than normal fares. We don’t want to earn money off anyone’s crisis,” said Dhananjay Kumar, AI spokesperson.

A senior AI official said, “Seating capacity of the airline is around 65,000 per day and 6,000 to 10,000 seats remain vacant daily. Our aim is to fill these seats to increase the revenue and help last-minute passengers.”

Tickets can now be purchased from all outlets including Air India booking counters, the airline website, and travel agents.