Domestic flight fares: caps to depend on Coronavirus

Fare bands were in force for airlines, while the capacity restriction on domestic flight operations had been done away with from October 18, 2021

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

The government recently said that the decisions regarding domestic scheduled flight operations and relaxation in fare capping were subject to the Coronavirus situation, status of operations and passenger demand for air travel. Fare bands were in force for airlines, while the capacity restriction on domestic flight operations had been done away with from October 18, 2021.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said: “Under normal circumstances, airfares are neither established nor regulated by the government. However, due to the unprecedented circumstances, fare bands with upper and lower limits were introduced by the government as a special measure. The fare bands serve the dual purpose of protecting the interests of the travellers as well as of the airlines,” he told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Tier-3 cities, adding that regional airports like Jharsuguda, Kishangarh, Belgaum and Darbhanga have been witnessing exponential growth in air traffic

He said that the fare bands were revised from time to time keeping in mind the hike in the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in order to keep the aviation sector viable while protecting the interests of the passengers. Currently, fare capping was applicable on a rolling basis for a 15-day cycle, and the minister said that the government was regularly reviewing the situation. “Decisions regarding the domestic scheduled operations and relaxation in fare capping is subject to prevailing Covid-19 situation, status of operations and passenger demand for air travel,” he said.

Scheduled international commercial passenger flights remain suspended since March 2020 amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Regarding regional connectivity scheme UDAN, Singh said the scheme has transformed the way people travel in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, adding that regional airports like Jharsuguda, Kishangarh, Belgaum and Darbhanga have been witnessing exponential growth in air traffic.

“Till date, out of 948 valid routes, 403 routes involving 65 airports (including eight heliports and two water aerodromes) have been operationalised across the country under UDAN. Approximately 86.05 lakh passengers have travelled on UDAN flights since its commencement till January 9, 2022,” the Minister said in another written reply.

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