TV
With the festive season unfolding, many travellers have found it increasingly difficult to celebrate with trips as air ticket prices have surged. Ticket costs have reportedly tripled in the last month, leaving would-be passengers disheartened.
This sudden escalation is attributed by many to airlines' profit-oriented policies, prompting calls for action from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
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Flights between Bhubaneswar and major hubs like New Delhi and Bengaluru, which previously cost around Rs 6,000, now range from Rs 11,000 to Rs 23,000, with advance bookings offering little reprieve.
Such increases pose a significant challenge to middle-class families, whose dreams of air travel were bolstered by the 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik' scheme introduced by Prime Minister Modi's government in October 2016.
Bhubaneswar airport Director explained that the fare hikes are primarily driven by demand and supply, especially with tourist traffic rising from October. Bhubaneswar has seen an 8% increase in domestic travellers compared to the same month last year.
“I had booked my ticket nearly 15 days ago from Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar and, for that, I had to pay around Rs 11,500. In such a situation, a common man cannot travel. Rather, it would be better to travel by train,” a traveller Karan Choudhury expressed.
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Travel operators have remarked on the usual volatility of airfares, noting that the current rates for flights from Bhubaneswar to Delhi are so high that some consider international travel as a cheaper alternative. There are suggestions for the DGCA to implement measures to prevent excessive fare inflation.
Notably, Bhubaneswar is set to enhance its connectivity with five new routes from January, potentially adding more options for travellers.
