VISAKHAPATNAM: The steep hike in airfares of some airlines has been giving travellers the jitters for the past few days. Even at increased prices, tickets are not available for many flights.One way fares for international airlines from Visakhapatnam to Colombo, Singapore and Thailand are between Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000, whereas travel between Vizag and Hyderabad runs at over double price.Vijayawada to Vizag airfare is Rs16,000 for Air India Sunday's flight; it was Rs 19,185 on Saturday . Airfares of IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India and other flights moving between Vizag and Hyderabad are at Rs 10,000 to Rs15,000. The one way fare for the Vizag to Tirupati Air India flight was at Rs 43, 801on Saturday . Fares to Delhi and other key routes are also on the rise. Flights from Vizag to Delhi go up to Rs 23,000.A representative of SpiceJet said prices would come down after August 15. An official from IndiGo attributed sudden price hikes to the long weekend, Independence Day , and that a few services were temporarily suspended due to maintenance. He however mentioned that prices were the exact same with other airlines.Passengers accused airlines of looting the public by creating artificial demand. "I travelled from Vizag to Hyderabad last week of the last month at a price of Rs 4000 plus.I booked a ticket at a price of more than Rs 12000 for my cousin for one way fare from Vizag to Hyderabad. I don't know why it's this much of variation. When I enquired about it, some of the staff at airport said that few flights were cancelled recently ," said an air traveller in Vizag.The Tours and Travels Association of Andhra chairman O Naresh Kumar and president K Vijaya Mohan urged civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju to intervene and make sure that air travel is at reasonable fares, and to cap the maximum fare at not more than 50% to 100% of normal fare. They have also requested the intervention of secretary of Civil Aviation of Government of India and the Prime Minister's Office.

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