New Delhi: Air travelers in India are finding flight tickets more expensive than ever during this summer season. With summer holidays on, more and more people are flocking to various destinations to spend some luxury time or be with their family.
Money9 reported that the cost of flight tickets has surged by up to 40 per cent. The rise in flight ticket rates is not solely due to the higher number of travelers but also because of reduction in air services by certain airlines on certain routes.
India has one of the busiest air routes globally, with over 1.25 million planes taking off each month. In April 2024 alone, 1.35 crore flights were recorded. Approximately 4.5 lakh passengers fly daily, representing a small yet significant portion of India’s population that relies on air travel. The air travelers are now facing challenges due to strikes by pilots and cabin crew of leading airlines like Air India and Vistara.
The Centre for Aviation (CAPA) has reported a concerning trend. Over the past two decades, the top 20 domestic routes in India have seen little growth. However, in the last six quarters, airfare prices have escalated by 40 per cent on key routes such as Mumbai-Delhi, Bangalore-Delhi, Bangalore-Mumbai, and Delhi-Hyderabad.
Several factors have contributed to this rise in air ticket prices over the past three years. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the aviation industry and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has further heightened fuel prices. Additionally, a shortage of aircraft has placed additional strain on the industry, with an average of 150 aircraft being dumped.
The situation has been worsened by the operational issues faced by Go Air over the past year, reducing the number of available aircraft. According to CAPA, these challenges may persist, with high prices likely continuing until 2025-2026, after which a reduction might be seen.
Historically, the rise in airfare is stark. In the domestic market, the average price of a flight ticket was Rs 4,989 in 2003-2004, which increased to Rs 11,000 in 2019-2020. The aftermath of COVID-19 has only intensified this trend, hitting the aviation sector hard and resulting in higher travel costs.
As summer travelers navigate these increased expenses, the hope remains that the aviation industry will stabilize in the coming years, bringing some relief to passengers. Until then, the cost of summer travel by air is expected to remain high, impacting many holiday plans.
Summer air travel in India sees a surge in ticket prices, up to 40 percent, due to increased demand and reduced services. Factors like pilot strikes and global conflicts contribute, with relief not expected until 2025-2026. Business Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
