Airfare Soars 50% Amid Festival and Wedding Season, CTI Urges Government Action
Airfares have surged by 50% in New Delhi due to the festival and wedding season, prompting the Chamber of Trade and Industry to call for government intervention.
New Delhi, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : Airfares in New Delhi have skyrocketed by nearly 50% over the past two weeks, coinciding with the ongoing festival and wedding season. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has raised concerns about this significant price hike, which is affecting traders, the middle class, and everyday travelers alike. In response, CTI has sent a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjirapu, urging him to intervene.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal criticized airlines for exploiting the festive period to impose exorbitant fares, labeling it a direct assault on the common man’s finances. He warned that without timely intervention, the situation could worsen in the coming days.
Currently, the Chhath festival is underway, with millions eager to return home. Additionally, the wedding season is set to commence on November 20, leading to an increased demand for travel from Delhi to various cities. However, the steep airfares are discouraging many travelers, forcing some to postpone their trips or switch to buses and trains due to the high costs.
A recent survey by CTI revealed that airfares for several key routes from Delhi have nearly doubled compared to previous days. For instance, the fare from Delhi to Patna has surged to approximately ₹18,000, while the fare to Darbhanga has reached ₹20,000. Passengers traveling from Delhi to Mumbai are now facing fares around ₹15,000, and those heading to Bengaluru are paying between ₹16,000 and ₹18,000. The fare to Ahmedabad stands at about ₹11,000, and to Hyderabad, it ranges from ₹11,000 to ₹15,000.
Goyal pointed out that just days ago, these fares were almost half of what they are now. He emphasized that such a sudden increase is unjustifiable and that airlines should not be allowed to exploit travelers during the festive season.
CTI has outlined five key demands to the government. Firstly, they are calling for immediate regulation of airfares to curb the trend of arbitrary pricing during festivals and weddings. Secondly, they propose establishing a maximum fare cap for all routes, ensuring that no airline charges above this limit, which would provide relief to passengers facing sudden fare hikes.
The third demand is that fares should be determined based on distance and kilometers traveled. CTI argues that the fare for a 500-kilometer flight should not be the same as for a 1,500-kilometer flight. They advocate for a transparent formula that informs passengers of what they are paying for.
The fourth demand involves increasing the frequency of flights on busy routes such as Delhi-Patna, Delhi-Darbhanga, Delhi-Mumbai, and Delhi-Bengaluru. CTI believes that with higher demand and fewer flights, increasing the number of available seats would help control fares.
Lastly, CTI calls for the introduction of 2-3 new airlines in the country, asserting that relying on just two companies for air travel is insufficient. They believe that increased competition would naturally lower fares and improve service quality.
