Airfares drop but is it safe to go abroad?

The coronavirus is now spreading fast to countries other than China. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), as on 1 March, of the 87,137 cases confirmed globally, 7,169 were reported from outside China in countries such as Italy and Iran. On 1 March alone, 1,160 new cases were confirmed outside China.

While the stock markets are feeling the pain, the aviation industry seems to have taken a hit as well. Airfares for many international destinations have been slashed compared to the same time last year. According to data from Ixigo.com, an online travel portal, airfares have dropped as much as 32-35% on most international routes. “It’s mainly due to travel advisories being issued by various countries post the coronavirus outbreak. Drop in airfares can also be due to the recent international travel sales being rolled out by various airlines, including Air India and Indigo,” said Aloke Bajpai, co-founder, Ixigo.com.