DGCA Reviews Airfares Ahead of Festive Rush, Directs Airlines to Add Flights
India’s airport network has grown from 74 in 2014 to 163 in 2025, and the government aims to more than double that by 2047.
New Delhi, October 6: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reviewed airfare trends ahead of the festive season and directed airlines to increase flight capacity to prevent sharp fare hikes amid rising passenger demand.
Acting on the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s mandate to monitor ticket prices, the regulator proactively engaged with airlines and advised them to deploy additional flights across high-demand routes.
In response, airlines have announced capacity expansions: IndiGo will operate around 730 additional flights across 42 sectors, Air India and Air India Express together will add approximately 486 flights across 20 sectors, while SpiceJet will operate around 546 additional flights across 38 sectors.
The DGCA said it would maintain close oversight of both fares and flight capacity to safeguard passenger interests during the holiday travel period.
The move comes amid expectations of record domestic air traffic this festive season, with several airlines reporting strong advance bookings.
