BIG Relief Ahead of Diwali! Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet Add 1,700 Flights To Ease Air Ticket Prices

Amid the ongoing festive season airlines are facing sudden surge in demand leading to increase in airline tickets. Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and other airlines are set to bring additional 1,700 flights to tackle fare surge.

The flight capacity expansion is in line with the recent orders by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It had instructed airlines to increase flight capacity. According to news agency IANS, the DGCA is closely monitoring airfare trends as the festive season approaches.

Airlines To Increase Flight Capacity

The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that airlines have been instructed to increase flight capacity to prevent a surge in ticket prices. This move aims to manage the expected rise in passenger demand during this period.

IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet To Expand Flight Capacity

As most of the airlines are planning to expand their flight capacity, there is an estimated 1,700 flight expansion during the ongoing festive season including Diwali, Karwa Chauth, Dhaneras, Chhath, etc.

IndiGo will introduce around 730 additional flights across 42 sectors. Air India and Air India Express are set to operate about 486 extra flights on 20 routes, while SpiceJet will expand its capacity with nearly 546 flights on 38 routes.

DGCA Keeps Track Of Airfares

Considering the sudden spurt in demand for air flights, the DGCA is closely monitoring the situation of airfares, especially during peak travel times like festivals. The regulator has taken proactive steps by engaging with airlines to ensure they deploy more flights, thereby keeping fares affordable for passengers.

A DGCA official emphasised the importance of maintaining reasonable fares and adequate flight availability during the festive season. "We are ensuring that airlines operate sufficient flights to meet demand and that fares remain reasonable during the festive period," an official told IANS.

DGCA's intervention has come after a phenomenal increase in airfares on popular routes to destinations located in Bihar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, etc over the past few weeks. As large numbers of passengers plan to travel to their home and return to their work locations after festival periods, there was a significant surge in airfares.

According to local reports, airline tickets from Patna to metro cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, etc have surged significantly over the past few weeks. According to local website, Patna Press, one-way tickets reached up to Rs 21,000 during Chhath Puja on the Patna-Hyderabad route. Airlines have attributed these high prices to increased demand and limited seat availability.

The Delhi-Patna route has been particularly affected. Fares that usually range from Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,500 soared to between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 during the festive period.