The civil aviation ministry has raised the lower limit on airfares by 13 to 16%, in turn paving way for domestic flying to become costlier for travellers. The upper limits have remained unchanged, reported a news agency.
The increase in fares is set to come into effect from 1 June, according to an official order.
The move comes in view of a devastating second wave of COVID-19 in India, which has reduced air travel significantly, burdening the airlines.
Now, the lower limit for flights under 40 minutes of duration will be increased from ₹2,300 to ₹2,600 — a hike of 13%.
Similarly, flights with a duration between 40 minutes and 60 minutes will have a lower limit of ₹3,300 instead of ₹2,900 now, the order said.
Domestic flights of duration between 60-90, 90-120, 120-150, 150-180 and 180-210 minutes will have lower limits of ₹4,000, ₹4,700, ₹6,100, ₹7,400 and ₹8,700, respectively, from June 1 onwards, as per the order.
Currently, domestic flights of duration between 60-90, 90-120, 120-150, 150-180 and 180-210 minutes have lower limits of ₹3,500, ₹4,100, ₹5,300, ₹6,400 and ₹7,600, respectively.
The country had imposed lower and upper limits on airfares based on flight duration when services were resumed on 25 May last year after a two-month stringent lockdown.
In February this year, the lower and upper limits on domestic airfares were increased by 10 to 30%.
Surjitt Sahani
