Kejriwal Criticizes Removal of Domestic Airfare Cap by Central Government

Kejriwal's Concerns Over Rising Airfare Costs

Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Chief Minister of Delhi, expressed his disapproval on Sunday regarding the central government's decision to lift the cap on domestic airfares. He warned that this move could push ticket prices beyond the reach of the middle class. In a post on X, Kejriwal stated that air travel is becoming increasingly unaffordable for the average citizen. He criticized the Modi administration for removing the airfare limit, suggesting it could lead to significant inflation in ticket prices. Kejriwal emphasized that instead of deregulating fares, the government should focus on more effective regulation, asserting that air travel has transitioned from a luxury to a necessity for the middle class.

Government's Decision Following Aviation Sector Challenges

This statement follows the Ministry of Civil Aviation's announcement on Saturday to withdraw temporary fare restrictions on domestic flights, citing the need for stability in flight operations across the sector. The Ministry had previously imposed emergency fare caps due to severe disruptions in the aviation industry in recent years. This decision was prompted by Indigo's cancellation of thousands of flights due to a pilot shortage, which led to a sharp increase in ticket prices on busy routes, necessitating government intervention.

Previous Fare Limits and Their Impact

Under the previously enforced fare limits, one-way economy class tickets for flights up to 500 kilometers could not exceed ₹7,500. For routes between Delhi and Mumbai, which are approximately 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers, fares were capped at ₹15,000, while flights over 1,500 kilometers had a maximum fare of ₹18,000.