New Delhi: The central government has asked airline companies to exercise restraint while fixing flight ticket prices and maintaining a balance between the maximum and minimum prices. The government’s advice has come at a time when ticket prices have skyrocketed on some routes after budget airline GoFirst stopped flying. However, the government has made it clear that it has no intention of controlling the price of air tickets.
According to a report in the news agency PTI, a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that airlines have been asked to ‘exercise restraint’ and ‘maintain some kind of balance’ while fixing ticket rates. The official said on the condition of anonymity that there cannot be a situation where there is a huge difference between the lowest and highest fares.
After the cash crunch, GoFirst stopped the flight on May 3, there has been a huge jump in the airfares of the routes on which GoFirst was operating. These routes also include Delhi-Srinagar and Delhi-Pune. , According to data from the travel portal Ixigo, the average one-way spot fare on the Delhi-Leh route increased by 125 percent to an average of Rs 13,674 during the May 3-10 period as compared to the April 20-28 period. In the same period, the average one-way spot fare on the Delhi-Srinagar route increased by 86 percent to Rs 16,898.
After the passing of the Corona epidemic, the Indian aviation sector is gaining momentum. According to official data, in April 2023, 128.88 lakh passengers traveled by air in India. GoFirst’s services were stopped at a time when the peak season is about to begin. June is considered the peak travel season. Airlines fix ticket prices keeping in mind the market, demand, weather, and some other factors. Airfare increases with the increase in demand for seats.
3 companies in trouble
At present, many airline companies in India are facing different crises. GoFirst is undergoing a voluntary insolvency resolution process. Several aircraft of Indigo are grounded due to a dispute with engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. While SpiceJet is also facing financial constraints.
