Mahakumbh 2025 Airfare Soars By 600% As Airlines Cash In, Aviation Watchdog DGCA Steps In

Mahakumbh 2025 Airfare Soars By 600% As Airlines Cash In, Aviation Watchdog DGCA Steps In
New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA has asked airlines to rationalise airfares for flights to Prayagraj in view of the Maha Kumbh following reports that air tickets to the holy city have skyrocketed by as much as 600% as thousands of pilgrims travel for the mega religious gathering.
Mahakumbh 2025: A total of 11.47 crore people have visited the Maha Kumbh after it started on January 13.In order to meet the growing demand, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved 81 additional flights in January, increasing the air connectivity to Prayagraj to 132 flights from across the country.As per travel portal, air ticket prices for the Delhi-Prayagraj flights have risen by up to 21 per cent, with one-way-tickets costing upwards of Rs 20,000.
For Delhi to Varanasi, tickets are priced between Rs. 20,000 – 40,000 as many travelers are forced to explore alternative airports as flights to Prayagraj sell out.This sudden surge in air fare is against the around Rs 5,000 for a one-way trip to these cities under normal circumstances.
Mahakumbh 2025:This pattern of extreme fair hikes during festive season has always been a contentious issue and causes deep looses to the air passengers pockets. While airlines defend the increases as a function of supply and demand, passengers argue that it amounts to profiteering.According to the latest official figures provided by the Uttar Pradesh government, on Sunday 1.17 crore people took a dip in the Sangam till the late afternoon.
Mahakumbh 2025:Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu earlier had assured 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.In February last year, a parliamentary panel had proposed that the government should frame guidelines to control sudden surges in airfares.
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