Scindia: Add extra flights on Go First routes to cool fares: Union civil aviation minister Scindia to airlines – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday asked domestic airlines to add capacity on routes that have seen a sharp hike in airfares after Go First suspended flights on May 2, 2023. While international airfares have been at record high since 2021, now even domestic ticket prices are near all-time highs. For instance, Delhi-Leh return had gone to as high as Rs 52,000 on budget airlines some days back.
Scindia held a meeting with the airlines on Monday to discuss this issue. “The minister shared his concern regarding abnormal surge pricing on certain routes. He has asked the airlines to self-monitor airfares on certain select routes that have seen considerable surge pricing of late, particularly those that were earlier being serviced by Go First. They have been asked to devise a mechanism for ensuring reasonable pricing within the high RBDs (reservation booking designator). This shall be monitored by the DGCA,” said a ministry official.
Airlines keep certain number of seats in different fare buckets. As one price level seats get sold out, fares move to the next higher level. Since airfares are deregulated, the government or DGCA can’t do much about the same soaring during crush times — like when an airline shuts down — and/or in peak travel seasons. Go First collapse in May, just before the summer travel season, delivered a double whammy on both those counts.
“The minister asked airlines to keep a tight check on air ticket pricing in view of the humanitarian situation and monitor and control any surge in ticket prices to/from that region during any calamity. In case of the unfortunate Odisha tragedy, airlines have been advised to provide free carriage (cargo) services to the families of the deceased,” the official added.