Airfares in this dynamic market adhere to the principles of supply and demand. Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha said “airfares are influenced by various factors, including the number of seats sold on a particular flight, prevailing fuel prices, aircraft capacity, competition, seasonality, holidays, festivals, weekends and events such as sports competitions and fairs.”
Month wise airfares structure
India experiences a highly seasonal aviation market characterised by fluctuations in passenger traffic. Typically, May and June see heightened activity, extending into mid-July with increased international flows contributing to domestic demand. The period from July to September is traditionally slower due to monsoon-related travel restrictions and other religious reasons. October marks a resurgence in traffic with the onset of the festive season, peaking during Dussehra. However, demand starts diminishing by mid-January and continues to soften until the last week of April. Summer holidays then prompt another increase in demand.
DGCA guidelines
In the event of flight cancellations or delays, airlines must adhere to the guidelines outlined by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These guidelines, detailed in the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV, mandate airlines to inform passengers of cancellations in advance. If not informed, the airline must provide an alternate flight or compensation, in addition to a full refund of the air ticket. Passengers facing delays are entitled to meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation, alternate flights, or full refunds, depending on the extent of the delay.
To ensure compliance, DGCA conducts random inspections at various airports. If an airline is found violating CAR provisions, necessary penal action, including financial penalties, is imposed.