The third quarter American Express Airfare Index for the Asia Pacific region in 2005 has revealed modest reduction in airfares compared to the previous quarter in most classes of travel on routes from India, Taiwan, Thailand and Hong Kong and for business class airfares from New Zealand.

"India is one of the few countries in the region where air fares have become cheaper during the last quarter," the AEAI index said.

Modest increases were recorded on routes from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and for First Class and Economy fares from New Zealand. Airfares from Japan and Pakistan, however, either remained unchanged or marginally changed, the index said.

The index indicated that in India first class airfares fell 0.7 per cent in Q3, 2005. Business class airfares from India fell by 0.6 per cent and economy airfares fell 0.7 per cent as did discount economy airfares.

The overall index for Asia Pacific region indicated that over the past quarter first class airfares across the region decreased on an average by 0.1 per cent, business class and discount economy airfares fell 0.3 per cent while full economy dropped by 0.2 per cent.

The highly-restricted lowest peak season excursion airfares increased by 0.4 per cent while lowest off-season excursion airfares increased by 0.2 per cent, the index said.

Over the past year, from Q3-2004 to Q3-2005, there has been a general across-the-board increase, the index said adding that first class airfares increased by 2.1 per cent and business class increased by 3.1 per cent, while full economy fares were up by 2.2 per cent and discount economy fares increased by 2.3 per cent.

Peak season excursion airfares were relatively stable increasing by just 0.1 per cent year-on-year while off-season. Excursion airfares increased by 1.2 per cent, it added.

The overall index for the region has increased steadily over the past three years in first and business class, up by 8.3 per cent and 9.7 per cent respectively over the three years ending Q3-2005.

The full economy and discount economy airfares indices indicated increased airfare by 5.8 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively over the same period.

Increases in the leisure travel economy categories were at a considerably slower rate, with a 2.3 per cent increase in the lowest peak season excursion and 2.9 per cent for lowest off-season excursion across the three-year period.