Dubai: Air India (AI) and Indian Airlines (IA) have slashed airfares in the Gulf-Kerala sector by five to 18 per cent ahead of a proposed boycott of national carriers by several Indian associations to protest high tariffs.

Air India regional director Captain P P Singh said the fare will go down by five to 18 per cent from April 1 for all tickets to Kerala in a move to pass on the benefit of the scrapping of aviation turbine fuel tax by the State Government.

R C Kathuria, the regional director Indian Airlines said IA has also reduced airfare in the Kerala sector.

However, Indian associations dismissed the move as an "eyewash" and said they will go ahead with the proposed boycott of the national carriers on Wednesday (Mar 3, 2004).

The Indian Association Sharjah president A A Rahim said the periodic reduction was nothing new and the national carriers were expected to jack up the rates as soon as the holiday seasons start.

K M Basheer, secretary general of the All India Airport Users Forum said the high airfare killed tourism in India. "India gets only less than one per cent of world tourist arrivals despite the projections of the country as a top destination," he claimed.

He said 48 Associations together would approach the Supreme Court shortly, seeking a review in the fare structure.