Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 24:
The rise of crude oil price has led to the sky-rocketing of all sectors of air-fares which in turn led to the dipping in the graph of fliers in the overall all India scenerio as reported in some sections of the media.
However, Manipur tells a different story, thanks to the long night travels and the lootings along the National Highway-39 between Imphal and Guwahati.
A survey conducted by NNN has shown that the rate of domestic passengers flying to and from Imphal has increased in the past few months despite the increased in the air fares.
This has to do with the safer side of air journey when compared to the insecurities that one faces with the long night journeys especially the lootings in the surface travellings, the survey found.
This fact has been confirmed after interacting with travel agencies both air and surface.
Talking to our reporter at the Tuhilal airport, Imphal, a traveller, Ch Samu, a retired Assistant engineer of the Electricity Department said that journeys along the National Highways are tiresome and are 'not safe with repeated lootings'.
It may be mentioned here that with the increasing price of crude oil in the international market, the air fares have shot up leading to a dip in the graph of fliers in other States.
In the first week of May, the price of aviation turbine fuel was $120 per litre.
By July end it was $147 a litre.
In this connection, all airlines increased their fuel surcharges by 10-15 percent after the fuel price went up.
And for a long-haul flight over 750 km, a passenger now has to pay Rs 1,000 or more in the minimum-fare bracket.
However, with Manipur telling a different story of fliers the air traveling private agencies (ticket booking agencies) are mushrooming in the State.
They have made bookings much easier, simpler and faster for the air passengers, thanks to the internet.
A marketing executive of a booking agency who wished to remain anonymous informed that four private services viz Indian Airlines, Air Deccan, Indigo and the JetLite land at the Tuhilal airport, Imphal on daily basis.
Though there has been hike in air fares this has not affected their customers, added the marketing executive while informing further that the months from December to March are the rush hours for fliers.
According to the Government of Manipur, night landing facilities at the Imphal Airport is likely to be completed by September, 2008 .