DGCA and Ministry Successfully Lower Airfares, Minister Scindia Commends Efforts

New Delhi: In a recent press conference, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced significant reductions in airfares on specific routes from Delhi. Following a meeting of the airlines’ advisory group on June 6, fares for flights connecting Delhi to destinations like Srinagar, Leh, Pune, and Mumbai were reduced by 14 to 61 percent. Minister Scindia expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry in monitoring and regulating fares.

During the press conference held in the national capital, Minister Scindia highlighted the accomplishments of the aviation sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the past nine years. He emphasized that the aviation industry follows an algorithm to determine airfares, taking into account various factors such as market dynamics and seasonal variations.

While airlines have the authority to set airfares based on market conditions, Minister Scindia stressed the importance of social responsibility for private airline companies. He suggested that there should be limits on fare increases across sectors to ensure reasonable pricing for passengers. He further clarified that the role of the aviation Ministry is that of a facilitator rather than a regulator.

In a high-level meeting chaired by Minister Scindia, the airline advisory group was urged to self-regulate airfares and maintain reasonable price levels. The Minister emphasized the need for careful consideration of fare rates, especially in light of unforeseen incidents in Manipur and Odisha. He also noted that airfares from Delhi to cities like Srinagar, Leh, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru remained on the higher side.

The exorbitant prices of domestic air tickets have become a burden for passengers, further exacerbating their travel woes. The efforts to monitor and reduce airfares on specific routes from Delhi are expected to provide some relief to travellers.