Air travel within the country is all set to get costlier. The Civil Aviation Ministry on Friday has raised the lower limit on fares of domestic flights from 13 to 16 percent. The revised rates will come into effect from June 1.
“Fare for domestic travel less than 40 minutes of duration will be hiked by Rs 2,300 to 2,600 which is 13 percent of the current fare,” ordered Civil Aviation Minister. Flights with the duration of 40 minutes to one hour will have fares at a lower limit of Rs 3,300 instead of Rs 2,900.
Likewise, for the flight of duration between 60 to 90 minutes, the passengers will be charged at Rs4,000 and for 90-120 minutes at Rs 4,700. For travel of 150-180 minutes, the airfare will be Rs 6,100 and for 180-200, it will cost Rs 2,400.
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Meanwhile, considering the decreasing numbers of passengers in flights over the last three months due to the second wave of coronavirus, MoCA has reduced the capacity from 80% to 50%. “In the view of a sudden surge in the number of active coronavirus cases across the country, decrease in passenger traffic and passenger load factor, the existing capacity cap of 80 percent may be read as 50 percent capacity," stated Minister of Civil Aviation.
Besides, these elevated prices, rates will not include taxes and airport development fees (ADF). Passengers have to pay separately for that.
The decision was taken after Civil Aviation Ministry’s stock of the passenger traffic situation which is taken by the ned of every month. After the survey of the passenger traffic situation, further decisions are taken depending on how the market is shaping up.