New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proactively intervened to address the anticipated surge in airfares and high passenger demand ahead of the festive season.
This move comes after media reports highlighted that advance bookings for the festive season were already showing a significant rise in airfares on popular metro and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) routes.
Following a mandate from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to monitor and regulate fares, the DGCA instructed domestic airlines to significantly augment their flight capacities.
In response to the regulator’s directive, major Indian carriers have committed to deploying over 1,700 additional flights to key routes across the country to accommodate the rush of travelers returning home and taking holidays for festivals like Durga Puja and Diwali.
The combined increase in flight services is a direct measure to inject more capacity into the market, which is expected to moderate the dynamic surge pricing typically seen during peak travel periods.
While IndiGo has informed of deployment of approx. 730 additional flights across 42 sectors, Air India & Air India Express have committed deployment of approx. 486 additional flights across 20 sectors. And SpiceJet informed deployment of approx. 546 additional flights across 38 sectors.
The aviation regulator confirmed it would maintain a “rigorous oversight” on both airfares and flight capacities to ensure passengers are not exploited through exorbitant pricing.
While airfares in India are generally not regulated by the government and follow the market-driven principle of demand and supply, the DGCA has historically intervened during emergencies, crises, and periods of unusually high demand to ensure passenger welfare.
The DGCA stated that the additional flights, which total over 1,700 extra services, should help stabilize the market and provide more affordable travel options for the millions of citizens planning to fly during the high-demand festive window.