Air India offers 'last-minute' discounts on tickets booked within three hours before flight departure

MUMBAI: National carrier Air India has launched an offer wherein heavily discounted domestic air tickets will be available for sale three hours before flight departure. The scheme would be a boon for passengers who need to travel due to an emergency and often find themselves paying exorbitant amounts to buy a last-minute air ticket.

In a statement issued on Friday, Air India said: "On the domestic sector that 'very last moment inventory', that is, available seats within three hours of departure would be sold at a hefty discount, normally exceeding 40 per cent of the selling price."

An airline spokesperson said that "last-minute traveller who generally travels due to an emergency is often faced with very high ticket prices and such high prices are a deterrent."

"This decision was taken during a commercial review meeting at Air India headquarters on Friday. Tickets can be purchased from all outlets including Air India Booking Counters, Air India Mobile App, Air India website and Travel Agents," the spokesperson further said while calling it a "rare decision, as otherwise in the aviation sector prices increase steeply closer to the departure."