In the wake of tight competition from other airliners, Air India has cut down domestic fares drastically to attract more passengers.
According to the new discount rates, the flight charge to 99 per cent of the destinations will be less than that of first class train tickets. However, the passengers should book their tickets 60 days prior to the date of travel to avail of these benefits.
Around, 35 per cent cut is imposed on each sector. A passenger who travels from Kochi to Delhi in first class AC on a train will have to pay `6,555. But as per the new fares of Air India, one needs to pay only `5,062 to travel from Kochi to New Delhi. The passenger can reach Delhi in three hours while it will take two days by train.
Similarly, the first class AC train charge from Mumbai to Delhi is `4,035, while the Air India ticket rate for the same distance is only `3,991.
From Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, Air India charges only `5,062, whereas the first class AC train ticket comes to `6,770.