The Ministry of Civil Aviation said on January 27 that steps are being taken to rationalise airfares for flights to Prayagraj, and that the number of flights have been increased to cater to the rising traffic demand for the Maha Kumbh 2025.

Amid concerns over surging airfares for flights to Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh will be held till February 26, officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) held a meeting with airline representatives last week and urged them to add more flights and rationalise ticket prices.

Currently, there are 132 flights operating with approximately 80,000 monthly seats to Prayagraj from various Indian cities. The city, formerly known as Allahabad, is currently connected with 17 cities as compared to a paltry eight in December 2024.

In a release, the ministry said that with direct and connecting flights reaching 26 cities, including Srinagar and Visakhapatnam, Prayagraj is now a well-connected hub for devotees. According to the ministry, the new flights are part of ongoing efforts to ensure regional connectivity and accommodate the influx of travellers to Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh period.

Furthermore, the ministry said the addition of these flights is expected to ease the pressure on airfares and improve overall accessibility for devotees and tourists. “As per the directions of Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu to ensure that airfares remain in check as the festival's peak days approach, especially during the forthcoming Shahi Snan on January 29, February 3 and other important Snan on February 4, February 12 and February 26, 2025; DGCA has advised airlines to ensure sufficient capacity to accommodate passengers,” the release said.

Under current norms, airfares are deregulated and are not controlled by the government. Akasa Air will start flights on January 28 and 29 to Prayagraj from Ahmedabad. In February, the airline plans to operate nine flights from Ahmedabad and 12 flights from Bengaluru to Prayagraj, adding around 4,000 seats. SpiceJet will commence flights to Prayagraj from Delhi, Chennai, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Jaipur and Hyderabad. This will add about 43,000 seats in February, as per the release.

The airfares for Prayagraj flights have been rising, and the surging prices should be curtailed as they affect tourism and are detrimental to not only domestic but also inbound travellers, Jyoti Mayal, the chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council, said.

For the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj Airport witnessed 30,172 passengers and operated 226 flights in just one week, surpassing 5,000 passengers in a single day for the first time. Night flights have also been introduced. According to the ministry's release, passenger comfort saw notable improvements with the addition of lounges, a childcare room and an increase in the number of boarding bridges to six at the airport.

“Food and beverage counters were increased, complemented by the UDAN Yatri Café for affordable food,” the release said.

(With inputs from PTI)