India-US Flight By United Airlines Is 43% Cheaper Than Air India Tickets For Same Route

United Airlines’ has 3 repatriation flights lined up over the next 10 days all set to take off from Delhi. The tickets sold out in a few hours indicates the massive demand for outbound flights as well.

A clear fare disparity can also be observed between the American carrier and Air India flights for Vande Bharat Mission flights .

Read on to find out more

A Whooping Demand For Outbound Flights!

United Airlines will operate the flights between Delhi and Newark on July 10, 12 and 15.

This move comes after the US Department of Transportation barred Air India to operate chartered flights between India and the United States without its prior approval. However, on July 5 Air India announced 36 repatriation flights to the US.

The American carrier’s repatriation flights got permission from the Ministry of Civil Aviation for outbound flights.

The Government of India when announcing the ‘Vande Bharat’ mission had fixed the flight fare rates. A flight rate from Delhi to the US was fixed at around Rs 1 lakh.

Many passengers and executives from the industry had protested that the fares were high. However the government said they were much lower than those charged by charters arranged by other airlines.

Moneycontrol asked United if its flights will be bringing passengers into India. The airline responded: “We are operating three repatriation flights from Delhi to Newark on the 10th, 12th and 15th, and operating them consistent with the current Indian restrictions on international flights departing India. Customers can purchase tickets through our website united.com or United app.”

A senior industry executive said, ” The fares are low, despite the incoming flight being empty,”

Many Air India’s outbound flights are also sold out. The senior executive mentioned above said, “Shows the pent-up demand for outbound too. Something on which there should never have been any restrictions.”

What Is The Fare Disparity?

The reports stated that the United Airlines fare was just a little more than half of what was charged by Air India. 

The flight fares range between  Rs 57, 498, for the July 12 flight to Rs 60,648 for those on July 10 and 15,

Although just before this development was announced, there were reports that Air India planned to slash fares on its repatriation flights by 25 to 45%. 

The Economic Times said that while an economy seat on a New York-Delhi flight will now be priced at Rs 75,461, the Toronto-Delhi economy ticket will be at Rs 75,321.

A look at Air India’s website suggests drop in fare rates!