Lok Sabha Question No. 1120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-08
Subject: Domestic Airfare during Festival Season
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1120

(To be answered on the 8 th  February 2024)

## DOMESTIC AIRFARE DURING FESTIVAL SEASON

1120.

DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that all private airlines in the country  have  increased  their  airfare  many-fold  to  various  domestic destinations arbitrarily particularly during festival seasons in January, 2024 and if so, the details thereof and the logic adopted by these airlines to determine the airfare particularly during the festival seasons;
- (b) whether the Government has given free hand to all private airlines to manage/operate the flight, time of departures/arrival and fix/determine the fare on their own and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the role and functioning of the Government to streamline the operation of flight services, fixation of airfare and safeguard the air passengers in the country?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a):  As  per  prevailing  regulation,  airfares  are  neither  established  nor regulated  by  the  Government.

The airfare established by the airline are dynamic in nature and follow the principle of demand & supply. The fares are also dependent on a number of other factors such as the number of seats already sold on a particular flight, prevailing fuel price, the capacity of the aircraft operating on the route, competition in the sector, season, holidays, festivals, long weekends, events (sports, fairs, contests) etc.

- (b) & (c): With repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation sector was totally deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operate with the compliance of Route Dispersal

Guidelines (RDGs) issued by the Government. Hence, it is up to the airline operators to consider the introduction of air services to/from any airport with any timing in the country depending on their operational & commercial viabilities. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has setup a Tariff Monitoring Unit (TMU) that monitors airfares on select domestic sectors on random basis by using airlines websites on monthly basis to ensure that the airlines do not charge airfares outside the range declared by them. In order to ensure appropriate protection for the air travelers, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued following passenger centric regulations to safeguard the interest of the travelling public: (i) Carriage by Air of Persons with Disability and/or Persons with Reduced Mobility [Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series 'M', Part I]. (ii) Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers (CAR Section 3, Series 'M', Part II). (iii) Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights (CAR Section 3, Series 'M', Part IV).

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