There is some bad news for domestic air travelers. In a latest move major Airlines (Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines) including low-cost carriers have withdrawn all promotional fares and increased basic fares by around Rs 2,000 on several sectors from Tuesday.

The companies have decided to stop the low-fare advance purchase (APEX) schemes, quoting that the airfares would now be decided by the market.

Due to this quick move, air travelers now have to pay more with major airlines, because all promotional fares have been withdrawn with immediate effect. For example Air India, which sold the lowest-priced ticket at Rs 89 on certain sectors, will now sell the same ticket at a base fare Rs 486, plus taxes and fuel surcharge.

Apart from the airlines mentioned above, some no-frill carriers also deciding to follow the suit over the next few days.
 
According to latest sources, it has been revealed that fares of SpiceJet and IndiGo are likely to stabilize in the low Rs 3,000 range from the current Rs 2,000 levels. However, final announcement from these airlines is yet to come.

Quoting to latest happening, the spokesperson of Air India said, "We have discontinued our promotional fares as the response has not been very good, but people who have already bought tickets under the scheme will enjoy the benefit."

However private carrier Kingfisher Airlines spokesperson expressed company's decision as a step to increase margins. The officials said, "We have closed low fare buckets and are concentrating on setting higher fare buckets. Our focus is on revenue and not seat factors."

It may be noted that, the regular fares and the fuel surcharges remain unaffected by the latest move.