Sky-high Airfares Displayed on Travel Sites
After the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, chaos reigned as travel websites displayed astronomical airfares for flights from Srinagar to major cities like Mumbai. The government wasn't going to stand idly by, though. The DGCA, aviation's top dog, demanded that airlines boost their passenger count from Srinagam and cap fares to ease the exodus of terrified tourists.
Meanwhile, sunny Odisha put pen to paper with the Tony Blair Institute to stir up some energy sector changes. Far from the tourism drama unfolding in the Kashmir valley, the locals there feared a quiet year ahead. With cancellations pouring in from across India, the tourism industry in J&K braced itself for the impact.
Air tickets for Wednesday and Thursday to Mumbai were all wiped clean, despite additional flights from Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa beyond their scheduled flights to Mumbai and Delhi. The Civil Aviation Ministry sprang into action, arranging four special flights from Srinagar to Delhi and two to Mumbai, with standby planes on-call to accommodate more evacuees.
Passengers took to social media to vent their frustrations over the eye-watering fares, with some eye-popping numbers like ₹56,000 for a flight from Srinagar to Mumbai surfacing. But fear not, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Minister for Civil Aviation (MoCA) weren't going to let passengers bear the brunt of these sky-high prices. In response, the duo butted heads with the airlines, demanding they stop charging cancellation and rescheduling fees and keep fares reasonable during these tense times.
Air India claimed it was doing its best to keep fares on the lower end, but travel portals seemed to be the culprits jacking up the prices. Akasa, IndiGo, and Spicejet also waived off cancellation and rescheduling fees, offering a glimmer of hope to anxious travelers.
In a swift move, Minister Shekhawat vowed to do his utmost to mitigate the damage to tourism post-Pahalgam attack. He assured that his ministry was in constant touch with the chief secretary and tourism secretary of the Union Territory, keeping a watchful eye on the unfolding situation.
Background Information
Typically, airfares for flights from Srinagar to Delhi range between ₹3,500 and ₹6,000, while fares for Srinagar to Mumbai flights generally fall between ₹3,500 and ₹6,500. Recent fares observed were slightly higher, around ₹4,854–₹5,289 for Srinagar to Delhi and specific flights at around ₹5,090 for Srinagar to Mumbai. However, post-Pahalgam terror attack, detailed updates on any new security measures, fare adjustments, or policices linked directly to this event were not found in current data.
For the most accurate and updated information on security measures or fare changes after the attack, direct official communications from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines, or airport authorities would be required.
- Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, some tourists are opting for adventure travel, yet the increase in budget-travel costs raises concerns, as airfares from Srinagam to major cities like Mumbai have skyrocketed.
- The government's response to the chaos involves policy-and-legislation, as the DGCA demands airline companies boost passenger count from Srinagam and cap fares to ease the exodus of tourists.
- In a different context, the politics of energy sector changes are being discussed in Odisha, which contrasts with the crime-and-justice issues stemming from the turmoil in Kashmir.
- Amidst the general-news coverage of the Pahalgam attack, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is taking steps to address the issue, arranging special flights to accommodate more evacuees and working to prevent excessive pricing from travel portals.
