New Delhi: Airfares across several major domestic routes have surged by nearly 50 per cent in just 15 days, triggering concerns among travellers ahead of the Chhath festival and the upcoming wedding season. Traders have urged the Central Government to intervene and introduce a maximum limit on ticket prices to prevent airlines from charging excessively during periods of high demand.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, seeking immediate measures to regulate airfares and establish a transparent pricing mechanism.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the sudden increase was placing an additional financial burden on businesspeople, middle-class families and ordinary passengers. With the wedding season beginning on November 20 and Chhath celebrations underway, thousands of people are looking to travel to their hometowns. However, rising ticket prices are forcing many families to reconsider their travel plans.
According to a survey conducted by the trade organisation, fares on several routes connecting Delhi with major cities have nearly doubled within a few days.
Current ticket prices include Rs 18,000 for Delhi to Patna, Rs 20,000 for Delhi to Darbhanga and Rs 15,000 for Delhi to Mumbai. Flights between Delhi and Bengaluru are priced between Rs 16,000 and Rs 18,000. Meanwhile, Delhi to Ahmedabad fares have reached Rs 11,000, while tickets to Hyderabad are costing between Rs 11,000 and Rs 15,000.
The CTI has placed five demands before the Civil Aviation Ministry. These include immediate intervention to control excessive pricing, an upper fare cap on every route and a transparent pricing system based on the distance travelled.
The organisation has also called for increased flight frequencies on high-demand routes, particularly Delhi to Patna, Darbhanga, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Additionally, it has urged the government to introduce two to three new airlines to strengthen competition and provide passengers with more affordable travel choices.
The traders believe stronger regulation and greater competition are necessary to prevent passengers from facing steep airfare increases during festive and wedding seasons.
