Indian air travelers are raising Conerns in the very high air rates, especially for last minute reserves, and many blame the duopoly of the main operators and ask for government intervention.
Is the duopoly in the Indian heavens pushing air rates? Although the executives of the aviation industry attribute any price increase to demand supply factors, last minute exorbitant rates on certain flights leave a sour taste among travelers.
“Someone promised to put Hawai Chappal Walas on flights and ended up creating a duopoly with a control regulator! The economic class of the Delhi class -Kolkata goes in just 32K, Indigo is in 21k!, Published lawyer published X.
According to Ghose, they were one way to travel on Wednesday morning (April 16), available to book on Tuesday night.
Ghose is not alone. In social media platforms, consumers complain or complain or more expensive air trips. “Flying abroad is turning to be cheaper than traveling inside India! National air rates are shooting. I hope the ministry looks for these high prices and provides some relief to regular travelers,” another consumer, Rajesh Garg, published in X.
National airlines are expected to operate 25,610 flights per week in the summer schedule, which is a growth of 5.5 percent in one year. On international routes, capacity has grown 8 percent in the year.
Traffic is also increasing since airlines transported 6 percent more passengers on national routes in 2024 at a year after year. In the first two months of 2025, traffic has grown 11 percent on a year after year.
While demand and seasonality (long weekends, school vacations, etc.) impact ticket prices, supply, cost and competitive forces also play an important role.
“The aircraft supply is not helping to meet demand and airlines are forced to lease airplanes. Akasa Air and Air India Express have faced delivery delays and Spicejet has not added airplanes according to the plan,” said an analyst of a national brokerage. “The price of crude oil has decreased and a downward specification can occur, but everything will defend itself in the competition. If today’s airlines are sold at a particular price, it means that there is acceptance for that price. It is not affecting the demand for trips,” he said.
However, consumer rights activists are not convinced.
“It seems that there is arbitrariness in the ticket prices of the airline. Customers have the right to know the basics in which air rates are charged. The DGCA cannot avoid its responsibility, this is a problem of public interest.
“While the government cannot regulate the thesis of air rates, it should not be allowed to shoot as they do repeatedly. There must be some responsibility and transparency in air rates,” he added.
For its part, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has formed a dedicated cell of “Air Sewa” to quickly handle the complaints of high -rates related clients. Although the Civil Aviation Regulator is also closely monitoring air tariffs, the center is also pressing the states to reduce the value added tax imposed on the fuel of the aviation turbine.
Aerial rates moderate in 2024 in relation to 2023 on routes monitored by DGCA, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu informed Rajya Sabha last month. “The airlines have also been sensitized to guarantee reasonableness when setting air rates and keeping in mind the interest of passersby,” Naidu said.
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Posted on April 16, 2025