Air India opens window from 27 Feb-1 March for 30% rate cut

State-run 'national carrier' Air India has finally joined the latest discount bandwagon started by SpiceJet earlier this week, as it announced a discount window of 30 per cent on tickets booked between 27 February and 1 March for domestic travel between 29 March and 30 September.

The AI discount, spread across 115 flights is, however, is available only on select domestic routes and the domestic leg of international flights.

''Fares under the discounted scheme start from as low as Rs1,586 for Goa-Mumbai, Rs1,889 for Delhi-Lucknow, Rs3,470 for Mumbai-Kolkata and Rs2,557 for Trivandrum-Mumbai, exclusive of taxes,'' the airline said.

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet had on Monday triggered a price war by offering up to 75 per cent off on base fare but fuel surcharge equivalent to last minute fares for travel between 1 April and 30 June, applicable for bookings made till 26 February.

Other no-frills carriers like IndiGo and GoAir quickly announced similar schemes within hours of SpiceJet's announcement. This was the third time the Chennai-based airline started a discount war in the last two months.

Jet Airways, however, entered the price war only on Tuesday as it launched a three-day sale of 60 days and 30 days apex fares on domestic flights operated by Jet Airways and JetLite. Travel under this offer is valid from 27 March to 30 September.