With airfares rising sharply ahead of the festival season, the civil aviation ministry is preparing to issue advisories to all airlines to check abnormal fare increases. The ministry plans to convene a meeting with carriers in the second week of September to discuss the issue.
A senior government official said the ministry is confident that airlines will heed its advisories. “We expect carriers to follow guidance on avoiding steep fare hikes. However, if we notice abnormal increases on any routes, we will not hesitate to introduce a mechanism to check prices,” the official added.
Fares up 50–80% on key routes
Airfares on major routes have surged 50–80% for travel around Diwali and other festivals. For instance, the lowest Mumbai–Delhi ticket for October 19 is currently Rs 9,500 one-way, about 65% higher than last year. Similarly, a Delhi–Kolkata ticket for September 27, ahead of Durga Puja, costs at least Rs 13,000, around 70% more than in 2024.
Civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu recently told Parliament that the ministry has set up an online system to help passengers monitor fares and guard against exploitative pricing. He said that airfares are not regulated following the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in 1994.
Airlines cite supply constraints
Travel agents said demand is outstripping supply, with fewer available seats pushing prices higher. IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, has cited lower capacity in the July–September quarter due to delayed aircraft deliveries. Air India is also facing delays in Boeing aircraft deliveries, while IndiGo’s new Airbus A321 XLR planes are running 15–18 months behind schedule.
The ministry’s planned intervention comes as festival travel spikes, with officials signaling that advisory measures will be the first step, followed by potential regulatory action if fare increases remain unchecked.