Airlines lure passengers with Indendence Day schemes

To capture the market share in the upcoming festive season, many Indian and foreign airlines Thursday started promotional schemes to celebrate India's 67th independence day.

Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet has announced a 100 percent discount on its base fare for all serving and retired Indian armed forces and paramilitary personnel along with their families. The airline said that the offer will begin on August 15-31 for travel between August 15 to September 30, 2013.

Not just Indian passenger carriers but, interestingly, British Airways is also celebrating the 67th Indian independence day by giving 15 percent discount on its first class and business class seats to London and North America.

British Airways will start its four-day offer from August 15 to 18 for the outbound travel period from September 1 to December 20.

"British Airways is amongst the first international airlines to fly to India. This year marks our 84th year of flying to India and we are proud to be sharing such a long legacy with this great country," said Christopher Fordyce, regional commercial manager, British Airways South Asia.

Even Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways and its sister airline Dragonair will celebrate the Indian Independence day with its "Freedom offer". The offer allows passengers freedom to change their date of travel multiple times - free of cost.

In the recent times many airlines like Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet have taken out specific schemes to lure passengers, as slow economic growth, high fares due to fuel cost and airport charges have led to a decline in passenger traffic.

The domestic air passenger traffic fell 1.84 percent in June. According to data furnished by the civil aviation ministry, domestic traffic in June stood at 5.01 million, from 5.11 million passengers ferried during the corresponding month last year.

The July passenger data is expected shortly.