How DGCA wants airlines to tackle festive rush in India
What's the story
As the festive season approaches, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to increase their flight capacities. The move is aimed at keeping ticket prices in check amid a surge in passenger demand. The DGCA, which comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), is responsible for monitoring airfares and taking necessary actions during price hikes.
Flight additions
Airlines to deploy additional flights
The DGCA has asked airlines to deploy additional flights during the festive season. This is to cater to the high demand from passengers. The festive season in India, which starts from Dussehra and goes on till Chhath, witnesses a spike in passenger traffic and ticket prices. IndiGo will operate some 730 additional flights across 42 sectors while Air India and Air India Express will add around 486 flights across 20 sectors.
Airline response
SpiceJet to operate extra flights
SpiceJet will operate 546 additional flights across 38 sectors. The DGCA said it will closely monitor airline fares and flight capacities to protect passengers' interests during the festive season. A senior DGCA official said, "We are ensuring that airlines operate enough flights to meet the surge in demand and that ticket prices remain reasonable during the festive period."
Fuel prices
Spike in air turbine fuel prices
The festive season also sees a spike in Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, which account for over 50% of an airline's operational costs. In the last four months, fuel prices have risen by some ₹12,000 per kiloliter. Although a discount of ₹1,300 was given last month, the overall trend shows steady increases of ₹100 to ₹1,000 at a time. This is likely to further impact ticket prices during this festive season.