With the surge in fares for the ongoing Maha Kumbh, eight in 10 fliers said they have paid excessively high fare once or more in the past 12 months, according to a LocalCircles survey.
Air fares to Prayagraj and Banaras in Uttar Pradesh have reported to have risen 300% to 600% as pilgrims flock in large numbers to take a dip in the Ganges during the ongoing Mahakumbh. Consumers are reporting airfares for Delhi to Prayagraj between Rs 20,000 – 30,000 and for Delhi to Varanasi between Rs 20,000 – 40,000. Many fliers have been trying alternate airports as flights to Prayagraj sell out. This is against the around Rs 5,000 for a one-way trip to these cities under normal circumstances.
The survey received over 30,000 responses from airline passengers located in 304 districts of India. While 61% respondents were men, 39% respondents were women. Around 41% respondents were from tier 1, 29% from tier 2 and 30% respondents were from tier 3, 4, 5 and rural districts.
THE SURVEY
The survey first asked air travelers, “How many times have you paid excessively high (1.5 times of standard fare or higher) airfare in the last 12 months?”
Of the 15,226 who responded to this question, 41% stated “1-2 times”; 36% stated “3-5 times”; 2% stated “6 times or more”; 16% stated they “have never paid excessively high fare in the last 12 months” and 5% of respondents did not give a clear answer.
6 IN 10 WANT GOVT TO INTRODUCE CEILING/UPPER LIMIT
Given the air travellers’ concerns, the survey asked, “What should the ceiling on airfares be so profiteering by airlines does not take place?”
Of the 15,095 who responded to the question 50% stated “2X of standard fare”; 10% stated “3X of standard fare”; 22% stated “there should be no ceiling / upper limit to what an airline can charge for a particular segment” and 18% of respondents did not give a clear answer.
