As the festive season enters the Diwali month, airlines are gearing up to meet the anticipated surge in air travel demand by adding 1,762 additional flights. The proactive action comes amid heightened scrutiny of airfares from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to curb any unjustified spike during the the period.
The ministry of civil aviation, in a statement on Sunday, said the DGCA has been directed to keep a close watch on fare patterns and ensure that ticket prices remain within reasonable limits.
“DGCA is mandated by the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) to keep a watch on airfares, especially during the festive season, and take appropriate measures in case of a surge in prices,” the ministry said.
The regulator had also directed airlines to augment capacity for the festive season by deploying additional flights to meet high demand.
Industry Response
Responding to the regulator’s call, leading carriers have announced significant additions to their flight schedules.
IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, will operate around 730 additional flights across 42 sectors, while Tata Group carriers — Air India and Air India Express — plan to run 486 extra flights across 20 routes.
SpiceJet, too, has stepped in with nearly 546 flights on 38 sectors, ensuring that travellers have more choices and better fare options during the festive rush.
This proactive step comes in the wake of growing concerns over sharp airfare hikes during peak seasons, especially on high-density routes like Delhi-Mumbai, Bengaluru-Kolkata, and Hyderabad-Chennai.
Historical price hikes and regulatory oversight
Airfares on major routes have surged 50–80% for travel around Diwali and other festivals.
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.