Nothing Budget About Airfares

Rising demand, limited capacities, and strategic pricing by airlines have contributed to the surge in air ticket prices

- BY RICHA SHARMA

NOT SO LONG ago, budget airlines were the go-to choice for cost-conscious travellers. Affordable fares made air travel accessible to millions. But today, booking an air ticket—even on a low-cost carrier—feels like a premium experience, at least in terms of pricing. Whether last-minute travel, or pre-planned trips, airfares across budget airlines are soaring, often rivalling full-service carriers.

From Mahakumbh in Prayagraj to the Coldplay music concert in Ahmedabad, and now the approaching summer holidays, spikes in airfares have become the norm rather than the exception. An airline ticket on the Delhi-Prayagraj route, which otherwise costs around ₹5,000, touched to ₹30,000-40,000 during the ongoing Mahakumbh.

The Director General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA's) intervention to check the surge in airfare hasn't made much difference, though the airlines said they flew more aircraft on the route. Rising demand, limited capacities, and strategic pricing by carriers have contributed to the surge in prices, leaving travellers to wonder whether travelling by budget airlines would truly be affordable again.