Rail, roads eat into air travel on short routes

Vande Bharat trains, new highways tempt many leisure travellers

- Anu Sharma

The introduction of premium trains such as the Vande Bharat, and the reduction in travel time on highways, are dampening demand for air travel on short routes, especially when airfares are steep, industry experts said.

While business travellers still opt for air travel, the transition is more visible in the leisure segment on account of rising airfare, and improved rail and road transportation infrastructure, according to executives at travel portals.

"Surface transportation emerged on the radar given the improved infrastructure coupled with supply constraints resulting in increased airfares. Compared with last year, return fare between Pune and Mumbai witnessed an increase of 17%, Jaipur-Delhi by 7% and Bengaluru-Chennai up by 4%," Daniel D'Souza, president and country head, holidays, SOTC Travel, said.