CTI Flags 50% Surge in Airfares Ahead of Chhath Puja, Wedding Season, Seeks Fare Cap
New Delhi, Nov 14: Travellers are facing a sharp rise in flight ticket prices ahead of Chhath Puja and the wedding season, prompting the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) to seek immediate government action. The trade body has claimed that airfares have climbed by nearly 50 per cent in just 15 days.
In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, CTI urged the Centre to introduce measures to control ticket prices and prevent airlines from imposing what it described as arbitrary charges during periods of high demand.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the steep increase was creating difficulties for business travellers, middle-class households and ordinary passengers planning festive journeys.
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Delhi Flight Tickets Become More Expensive
With Chhath celebrations underway and the wedding season set to begin on November 20, many people are preparing to travel to their hometowns. However, the rising cost of air travel is forcing some families to reconsider their plans.
A CTI survey found that ticket prices on several routes from Delhi have nearly doubled compared with rates recorded just days earlier.
The organisation cited the following fares:
- Delhi–Patna: Rs 18,000
- Delhi–Darbhanga: Rs 20,000
- Delhi–Mumbai: Rs 15,000
- Delhi–Bengaluru: Rs 16,000–Rs 18,000
- Delhi–Ahmedabad: Rs 11,000
- Delhi–Hyderabad: Rs 11,000–Rs 15,000
Goyal said passengers were now paying considerably more for routes that had been cheaper only a short time ago. He added that the increase was placing an additional financial burden on people travelling with their families.
CTI Proposes Five Measures to Control Airfares
The trade body has submitted five key proposals to the Civil Aviation Ministry to make air travel more affordable.
1. Immediate government intervention
CTI wants the government to step in and address what it considers excessive fare increases during festivals and the wedding season.
2. Maximum fare limit on every route
It has called for an upper fare cap to prevent airlines from charging beyond a government-prescribed limit.
3. Distance-based pricing system
The organisation has proposed a transparent fare structure linked to the distance travelled. It argued that flights covering 500 km and 1,500 km should not be priced without considering the difference in distance.
4. More flights on busy routes
CTI has also sought additional flight services on routes experiencing heavy demand, particularly Delhi–Patna, Delhi–Darbhanga, Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Bengaluru.
5. Entry of more airlines
Finally, the trade body has suggested introducing two to three additional airlines in India. It believes greater competition could expand passenger choices and help bring ticket prices down.
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–IANS
