More domestic flights this winter, but fares rise 30%

New Delhi:  Air travelers should not expect any relief from sky-high domestic airfares this festive season which are up by over 30% since August despite airlines increasing domestic flights in coming winter. Airlines will operate about 11,900 weekly domestic flights — 3% more than the summer schedule but still way less than the figure of 13,500 seen two years back when Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) was still flying. The drastic drop in domestic capacity from KFA days will mean that fares remain high despite the hike in flights from this summer to winter.
The aviation ministry has approved the domestic winter schedule of 11,886 weekly flights, up from the summer figure of 11,541. Air India, Jet Airways and Alliance Air will operate less domestic flights than their summer schedule and other airlines have added some flights, said sources.
Read news in full 11/10/13 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India