Vacationers have reason to be on cloud 9. With airlines offering massive discounts in the last week of May, they are flying to their favourite destinations paying lesser than even Rajdhani fares.

Such discounts will remain effective till August-September. Add to this, Indigo is offering discount on its Patna-Delhi sector for travel in July, bringing rates down to below premium train fares.

Slashing of air ticket prices began with IndiGo's Summer Special Sale from May 8-10. Tickets were offered at Rs 899 on select domestic routes and vacation getaways. The offer extended to air travel during the period from June 1 to August 31.

Next came SpiceJet, offering discounted tickets from May 23 to 28 for travel during the period from June 26 to March 24. The low-cost carrier offered all-inclusive discounted fare starting Rs 849 on select domestic routes.

IndiGo came up with another offer, a six-day sale - from May 23 to May 28 - offering tickets starting at Rs 899 on select routes. The rate was applicable on one-way, non-stop flights that were booked at least 20 days before the trip on the condition that the journey is undertaken between June 26 and March 24.

That wasn't the end. IndiGo next offered discounts under its limited-period "Fare Game" scheme on non-stop flights from locations including Patna, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi and other cities. The scheme was valid for travel between July 1 and September 20 for which bookings closed on June 4.

"After receiving a positive response on the sale in April, we are delighted to announce more summer special offers," an IndiGo official said in Patna. "We are anticipating an increase in the demand beyond summer vacation and are pleased to introduce special fares. This summer special offer will enable us to make passengers experience, even more, hassle-free travel than before."

"Enthused by the earlier response, we are again offering discounts on the Patna-New Delhi sector from July 4," the official said, adding that the ticket price will be in the range of Rs 2,300 to around Rs 3,100.

The same rates will be applicable on those flying from Delhi to Patna. GoAir and Jet Airways tickets for Patna to New Delhi flights are also in the range of Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,400 for the month of July.

Notably, the fare of AC first class of premium train Rajdhani Express, which runs from Patna to New Delhi, is around Rs 3,800.

Manish Kanchan, an employee of a private firm who is heading for a vacation to Shimla with his wife and two children, said: "I got air tickets at Rs 2,300 (discounted rate) for New Delhi. I made the purchase in the month of May. It was much lower than the Rajdhani fare, which was around Rs 3,000 per person. Why wouldn't one opt for air travel if such is the offer?"

Patna airport director Rajendra Singh Lahouria said they were trying to stagger the schedule of the flights to prevent congestion for air traffic as well as for the flyers.

There would be a gap of at least 10-15 minutes between flights, he said.

Currently, more than 30 flights operating daily from Patna airport. It has been a smooth journey from a 10 flights in 2010.