New Domestic Travel Rules Kick In From June 1: Ticket Prices To Become Costlier, Lesser Flights On Routes

Fare for domestic travel less than 40 minutes of duration will be hiked by Rs2,300 to Rs 2,600, which is 13 per cent of the current fare.

New Domestic Travel Rules Kick In From June 1 | File Image

With the lockdown measures imposed in several parts of the country, it’s becoming difficult for passengers to avail flights due to cancellations owing to low capacity.

Now, for those who are looking to book flights from June onwards, there are more cancellations likely in the coming days, and flight tickets are set to get costlier as the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has raised the lower limit on domestic airfare from 13 percent to 16 percent.

In fact, the capacity ceiling on flights have been reduced for the first time since operations were on track last year from May 25.

READ: India Reports Decline In Covid Cases & Death Toll; Records 1.52 Lakh New Cases; 3128 Fatalities

Check the new fare restrictions below

As per an order by MoCA, "Fare for domestic travel less than 40 minutes of duration will be hiked by Rs2,300 to Rs 2,600, which is 13 per cent of the current fare." Flights with a duration between 40 minutes to one hour will have fares at a lower limit of Rs 3,300. The fares for such flights were earlier capped by the ministry at Rs 2,900.

Similarly, for flights of duration between 60-90 minutes airfare will be charged at Rs 4,000, 90-120 minutes at Rs 4,700, 150-180 minutes at Rs 6,100 and 180-210 minutes will cost Rs 7,400.

What’s the reason behind the rise in airfare?

The government has increased the fare limits as a result of a hike in fuel costs. In fact, the price rise is partly due to the impact on the capacity of the load factors. The second wave of the viral disease impacted domestic air travel. At present, the cost of domestic flights in the above period is cheaper from Rs300 to Rs1,000.

 Lower and upper limits on airfares

Earlier, India had imposed lower and upper limits on airfare based on flight duration when services were resumed on May 25 last year after a two-month lockdown. At that time, the ministry had permitted the carriers to operate not more than 33 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic services. However, this cap was then gradually raised to up to 80 per cent by December last year. But now the cap has been reduced from 80 per cent to 50 per cent. This reduction will come into effect from June 1.

Also, it is important to note that for those who already booked to fly on or after June 1, passengers will have the option to book flights on alternate flights or get a refund or a free flight change for a later date. Most airlines are not charging any additional fee usually charged in the usual course of initiating the change of flight.