Aviation body asks airlines to ensure fair price, more flights before Diwali rush
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New Delhi: With the festive season approaching, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has intervened to prevent steep fare hikes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The regulator has instructed airlines to expand flight capacity and keep ticket prices reasonable as demand surges ahead of Diwali.
The DGCA said in a statement on Saturday that it had taken up the issue with carriers to ensure passengers are not burdened by inflated fares. The move came after the regulator reviewed airfare patterns on major domestic routes.
Following the advisory, several airlines announced significant increases in services through October and November. IndiGo, which controls about 64 per cent of the market, said it would add around 730 flights across 42 routes. Air India and Air India Express together are deploying nearly 486 flights on 20 sectors, while SpiceJet is introducing about 546 flights across 38 routes.
A DGCA spokesperson added that the regulator would closely monitor both fares and flight availability during the festive rush to safeguard consumer interests, NDTV reported.
The watchdog has faced mounting criticism in recent years over volatile airfares during high-demand periods like Diwali, Christmas, and summer holidays. Officials noted that although airlines are permitted to set their own fares under India’s open skies policy, the government has the authority to step in when prices rise excessively.
DGCA data shows that between January and August 2025, domestic carriers transported more than 1,107 lakh passengers, a 4.99 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. However, August traffic dipped slightly by 1.4 per cent from July, largely due to monsoon-related disruptions.
