Now discounted global flights from AirAsia, Jet Airways

It is raining discounts on the air travel front. After a flurry of discounts on domestic flights (See: AirAsia, Emirates follow Indian example; slash advance fares), airlines are now offering fare reduction on international travel.

Two days after Indian airlines slashed domestic fares by 50 per cent, Jet Airways (India) Ltd, the country's largest airline by passengers carried, today announced a 10 per cent reduction in the economy class on its international flights.

The fare discounts are applicable for flights between 1 February and 15 April and the offer is valid for booking from 24 to 26 January.

Travel agents expect state-run Air India also to launch similar offers.

Malaysian carrier AirAsia, meanwhile, announced a flat 20-per cent reduction on fares for flights from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur on all inclusive return fares from as low as Rs10,777.

For Chennai to Bangkok, it will offer an inclusive return fare of Rs9,999. The 20-per cent discounts are also available on select Malaysia domestic and Thai domestic flights and AirAsia long haul flights to Australia, China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea.

Travel agents will be present to book AirAsia tickets on the spot at the venue, says an Air Asia release.

AirAsia is offering a promotional fare for the upcoming Valentine's Day falling on 14 February.

All-in-fares inclusive of taxes and fees start from Rs4,000 from Kochi / Kolkata / Tiruchi to Kuala Lumpur, Rs6,499 from Chennai/Bangalore to Kuala Lumpur.

Passengers can explore romantic honeymoon destinations such as Johor Bahru / Kuala Terengganu / Penang / Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur for an all–inclusive-fare of Rs724, says the release.

The fare war comes at a time when India's airlines have posted combined losses of an estimated $1.95 billion in the last fiscal year on combined revenue of $9.5 billion due to high fuel and other operational costs.

The combined debt of Indian airlines increased 8-9 per cent in 2012-13 to an estimated $14.5 billion, according to aviation consulting firm Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa).