Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai. As the festive season of Diwali and Chhath approaches, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken strict steps to prevent arbitrary airfare hikes. Following a meeting held on Sunday with major airlines, DGCA directed them to increase flight operations on busy routes to manage passenger rush while keeping fares under check. The aviation regulator said it is keeping a close watch on routes where ticket demand is high, ensuring that passengers are not burdened with sudden fare surges during the festival period.

Airlines to add 1,700 extra flights

To handle the expected surge in passenger traffic, leading airlines including IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, and SpiceJet announced more than 1,700 additional flights. IndiGo will operate the highest number of additional services, with 730 new flights across 42 routes. Air India and Air India Express will add 486 flights on 20 routes, while SpiceJet will introduce 546 flights on 38 routes. The increase in flight frequency is aimed at maintaining stability in ticket prices and accommodating the massive travel demand during the festive weeks.

DGCA warns against fare manipulation

During the meeting, the DGCA issued a firm warning to airlines against exploiting festive demand by hiking ticket prices without justification. The regulator emphasised that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed airlines to maintain transparency and follow the prescribed fare bands. Monitoring teams will keep an eye on popular routes connecting major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, to ensure that passengers are charged fair rates.

Fuel cost rise impacting ticket prices

Despite the DGCA’s efforts to curb excessive fare hikes, rising fuel costs continue to push airfares upward. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices have increased by nearly ₹12,000 per kilolitre over the past four months. Since ATF accounts for over 50 percent of an airline’s operational costs, any rise in fuel price directly impacts ticket rates. Industry experts predict that unless fuel prices stabilise, maintaining low fares will remain a challenge even with additional flights.

Pilot federation demands Boeing 787 inspection

In a separate development, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to the DGCA, demanding a thorough inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft in India. The demand came after an incident involving an Air India Boeing 787 flying from Amritsar to Birmingham, where the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically just before landing. Although the aircraft landed safely, the FIP has urged the regulator to investigate the electrical systems of the model to prevent future technical glitches.

Ensuring passenger safety and affordable travel

Authorities are now focused on balancing operational safety, passenger comfort, and affordability during the upcoming festive rush. The additional flights are expected to ease congestion and provide passengers with more travel options. Meanwhile, DGCA’s continuous monitoring aims to ensure that airlines do not take undue advantage of increased demand. With safety checks and fare regulations in place, the civil aviation sector prepares for one of its busiest seasons of the year.

Summary Pointers:

• DGCA to prevent unfair airfare hikes during Diwali and Chhath
• Over 1,700 additional flights to be introduced across India
• IndiGo leads with 730 extra flights on 42 routes
• Air India and SpiceJet also expand their flight networks
• Fuel price rise continues to impact ticket costs
• Federation of Indian Pilots seeks Boeing 787 inspection
• DGCA ensures balance between safety, cost, and travel convenience