Airlines face more turbulence as fares plunge in peak month

Airfares on India’s most popular routes have nosedived over the past month when demand is usually the strongest during a year in a worrying sign that one of the roughest stretches for the domestic aviation industry may not witness a quick turnaround, industry executives said on Thursday.

Average ticket prices between 25 October- 25 November for bookings made within a two-week window on several routes are 25% to 35% lower compared to the year-ago period, according to data from online travel company Cleartrip. Traditionally, bookings made in a two-week span prior to a flight command the highest rates.

After suffering heavy losses in the September quarter, airlines were pinning their hopes on the busy October-December quarter to turn back into profit. But industry officials now said that their fortunes are unlikely to change soon.