Domestic flight tickets to cost more; govt raises minimum fares by 5%

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the ministry has decided to retain the permissible limit of flyers to 80 percent of the schedule as number of air passengers decline due to COVID-19 restrictions and imposition of compulsory RT-PCR test.

Saurav Mukherjee

March 20, 2021 / 07:37 IST

Mumbai | Passengers wearing protective face masks wait in a queue to enter Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. (Image: Reuters)

Amid a sharp spike in coronavirus cases in the country and surge in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, Union Civil Aviation Ministry on March 19 decided to increase the minimum air fares by five percent and continue with existing 80 percent cap on capacity.

"Last few days have seen a decline in the number of air passengers largely due to restrictions and imposition of compulsory RT-PCR test by various states. Due to this we have decided to retain the permissible (capacity) limit to 80 percent of the schedule,” civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a tweet.

ICRA on aviation: Expect 37% YoY drop in February domestic air traffic, credit outlook negative

He added, "There has been a continuous rise in the price of ATF so it has been decided to increase the lower fare band by 5 percent keeping the upper fare band unchanged. We may open the sector for 100 percent operations when daily passenger traffic crosses 3.5 lakh on three occasions in a month."

There has been a continuous rise in price of ATF so it has been decided to increase the lower fare band by 5% keeping the upper fare band unchanged. We may open the sector for 100% operations when daily passenger traffic crosses 3.5 lakhs on 3 occasions in a month.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) March 19, 2021

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Domestic flight tickets to cost more; govt raises minimum fares by 5%

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the ministry has decided to retain the permissible limit of flyers to 80 percent of the schedule as number of air passengers decline due to COVID-19 restrictions and imposition of compulsory RT-PCR test.

Mumbai | Passengers wearing protective face masks wait in a queue to enter Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. (Image: Reuters)

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Domestic flight tickets to cost more; govt raises minimum fares by 5%

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the ministry has decided to retain the permissible limit of flyers to 80 percent of the schedule as number of air passengers decline due to COVID-19 restrictions and imposition of compulsory RT-PCR test.

Mumbai | Passengers wearing protective face masks wait in a queue to enter Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. (Image: Reuters)

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