Singapore and Dubai appear to be the favourite destinations for Indian budget travellers heading to foreign shores.

Following the fare war triggered by budget airline SpiceJet slashing domestic fares in anticipation of low passenger loads in the coming months, domestic and international routes operated by low-cost airlines in India have seen an increase in searches, as revealed by a travel search site.

Most searched

Singapore and Dubai recorded the highest increase in flight searches on low-cost carrier routes, says a report by Skyscanner, an international travel search site.

The study identified the domestic and international routes operated by low-cost Indian carriers such as Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir from December 25, 2012, to January 25, 2013 over the corresponding period last year.

Bangalore was the most searched destination, with flights from Delhi reporting a 138 per cent increase in searches since last year and flights from Mumbai to Bangalore seeing a 418 per cent increase in searches.

Kolkata and Ahmedabad also witnessed an increase in low-budget flight searches.

Overseas routes

On international sectors, short-haul budget flights were preferred by Indian travellers with flights to Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok most searched.

Research findings

Kavitha Gnanamurthy, Skyscanner’s Market Development Manager for India, said: “Our findings indicate that most Indian travellers have preferred low cost carriers for travel within the country with metropolises such as Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad recording an increase in searches compared with the same period last year.

“For short international travel, it’s not surprising that Indians prefer not to burn a hole in their pockets with ‘no-frills’ airlines recording an increase in flight searches to destinations such as Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok.”

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