As Mahakumbh fares soar by 300-600%, 8 in 10 airline passengers surveyed confirm they have paid excessively high fare once or more in the last 12 months; Want Government to cap fares at 2X of standard fare


As Mahakumbh fares soar by 300-600%, 8 in 10 airline passengers surveyed confirm they have paid excessively high fare once or more in the last 12 months; Want Government to cap fares at 2X of standard fare

January 26, 2025, New Delhi: Air fares to Prayagraj and Banaras in Uttar Pradesh have reported to have risen 300% to 600% as pilgrims flock in large numbers to take a dip in the Ganges during the ongoing Mahakumbh. Consumers are reporting airfares for Delhi to Prayagraj between INR 20,000 - 30,000 and for Delhi to Varanasi between INR 20,000 – 40,000. Many fliers have been trying alternate airports as flights to Prayagraj sell out. This is against the around INR 5,000 for a one way trip to these cities under normal circumstances. This scenario is not unusual as airlines tend to hike fares multi-fold every time demand goes up during festive and other special events.

8 in 10 airline passengers surveyed say they have paid excessively high fare (1.5 times standard fare) once or more in the last 12 months

For long the government has been talking of putting a cap on airfare to prevent price surges during peak times when there appears to be no limits on how much the ticket prices rise. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on taking charge had assured media that he would review the trend of ever-surging flight ticket prices’ “I really want to delve into this issue (and) how to make them a little more accessible, available for the people of this country," the aviation minister had assured. The airlines however maintain that airfares are driven by supply and demand.

In February last year, a parliamentary panel had proposed that the government should frame guidelines to control sudden surges in airfares, adding that "a route-specific fare ceiling can be examined". With hundred plus consumer complaints received just since December last year on excessive air fares, LocalCircles has conducted a survey to find how fliers are faring and what is their views on capping of air fares. The survey received over 30,000 responses from airline passengers located in 304 districts of India. 61% respondents were men while 39% respondents were women. 41% respondents were from tier 1, 29% from tier 2 and 30% respondents were from tier 3, 4, 5 and rural districts.

8 in 10 airline passengers surveyed say they have paid excessively high fare (1.5 times standard fare) once or more in the last 12 months

The survey first asked air travelers, “How many times have you paid excessively high (1.5 times of standard fare or higher) airfare in the last 12 months?” Out of 15,226 who responded to this question 41% stated “1-2 times”; 36% stated “3-5 times”; 2% stated “6 times or more”; 16% stated they “have never paid excessively high fare in the last 12 months” and 5% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, 8 in 10 airline passengers surveyed say they have paid excessively high fare (1.5 times standard fare) once or more in the last 12 months. It is quite common to see flights selling at 2-3X airfares during the festival season and in case there is a special event. In 2023 for instance during the world cup, last minute Mumbai-Ahmedabad flights costed INR 25,000.

8 in 10 airline passengers surveyed say they have paid excessively high fare (1.5 times standard fare) once or more in the last 12 months

6 in 10 airline passengers surveyed want the Government to introduce ceiling/upper limit for airline fares which is 2 times the standard fare

Given the air travelers’ concerns, the survey asked, “What should the ceiling on airfares be so profiteering by airlines does not take place?” Out of 15,095 who responded to the question 50% stated “2X of standard fare”; 10% stated “3X of standard fare”; 22% stated "there should be no ceiling / upper limit to what an airline can charge for a particular segment” and 18% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, 6 in 10 airline passengers surveyed want the Government to introduce ceiling/upper limit for airline fares which is 2 times the standard fare.

6 in 10 airline passengers surveyed want the Government to introduce ceiling/upper limit for airline fares which is 2 times the standard fare

In summary, a sizeable number of consumers have expressed displeasure at the fact that airlines are profiteering during Mahakumbh and charging 3-6X the air fare for such travel and the aviation regulator is failing to contain such practices. 8 in 10 airline passengers surveyed confirmed that they have paid excessively high fare (1.5 times standard fare) once or more in the last 12 months. When it comes to capping of air fares or setting a limit, 6 in 10 airline passengers surveyed want the Government to introduce ceiling/upper limit for airline fares which is 2 times the standard fare. However, the survey reveals that 22% of air passengers are against the government putting a cap on air fare. People understand airlines must make a profit but there is a strong sentiment against evident profiteering that is happening with Mahakumbh travel and discontent that the regulator is failing to act.

Survey Demographics

The survey received over 30,000 responses from airline passengers located in 304 districts of India. 61% respondents were men while 39% respondents were women. 41% respondents were from tier 1, 29% from tier 2 and 30% respondents were from tier 3, 4, 5 and rural districts. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform, and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.

About LocalCircles

LocalCircles, India’s leading Community Social Media platform enables citizens and small businesses to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions and enables Government to make policies that are citizen and small business centric. LocalCircles is also India’s # 1 pollster on issues of governance, public and consumer interest. More about LocalCircles can be found on https://www.localcircles.com

For more queries - media@localcircles.com, +91-8585909866

All content in this report is a copyright of LocalCircles. Any reproduction or redistribution of the graphics or the data therein requires the LocalCircles logo to be carried along with it. In case any violation is observed LocalCircles reserves the right to take legal action.

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