Airfares Soar 500% Amid Maha Kumbh Mela 2025—Govt Steps In, IndiGo Slashes Prices!

With the present Maha Kumbh Mela, the Indian government has strived hard to manage airfares to Prayagraj. The pilgrims faced difficulty attending the holy fair as ticket prices soared manifold in a once-in-144-year affair that sent up travel demand. Therefore, the Civil Aviation Ministry has directed that the airlines maintain fair prices. Price hikes that Consumer Affairs Minister Pralahad Joshi termed “exorbitantly high” prompted him to call for corrective action from the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Unprecedented Surge in Airfares

One of the most significant religious events in the world, the Maha Kumbh Mela attracts millions of devotees from all across India and even abroad. Between January 13, 2025, and February 26, 2025, the fair saw surging travel at unearthly prices. While reports stated that the flight ticket to Prayagraj had crossed the Rs 50,000 mark at one stage, this prevented many pilgrims from flying.

Recognizing travellers’ distress, the Civil Aviation Ministry met with key stakeholders, including Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Secretary V Vualnam, DGCA Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, and senior airline representatives. The objective was to review the connectivity and pricing strategies adopted by airlines during the Maha Kumbh period.

Government Intervention and Airline Response

The government instructed the airlines to set the fare more reasonably by the discussion. So far, IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has reportedly cut its ticket prices by 30-50%, according to sources. An official statement from IndiGo is yet to come.

According to IndiGo‘s website, the fare for a Delhi-Prayagraj flight on February 16 is around Rs 13,500, while that for January 31 is high at over Rs 21,200. The lowest fare available for February 12 is around Rs 9,000, which shows a significant reduction after government intervention.

IndiGo has direct flights to Prayagraj from Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. Other airlines, such as Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, have not yet commented on their fares.

Consumer Affairs Minister Calls for Fair Pricing

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi brought this issue to public discourse. He stated that the ticket prices were unrealistic, saying on X:

Keeping in mind the interests of consumers, we have written to @DGCAIndia to take measures to lower airfares.

Joshi’s action highlights the more general problem of accessibility and affordability for pilgrims to Prayagraj. Although the cost of flights in India is deregulated and subject to supply and demand, the government’s policy still requires adequate pricing during festival seasons, especially when these are culturally and religiously important.

Increase in Flights and Connectivity

The Civil Aviation Ministry has significantly expanded flight operations to Prayagraj to accommodate the increased demand.

• Currently, 132 flights operate to Prayagraj, offering nearly 80,000 monthly seats.
• Direct connectivity has expanded to 17 cities, up from eight in December 2024.
• Prayagraj now has access to 26 cities, including Srinagar and Visakhapatnam, further facilitating easier travel for devotees.

This growth is a tactical move to deal with the influx of passengers without letting the increased airfare, which is too expensive, become a constraint for the pilgrims.

The Impact of the Decision

In the wake of a directive to regulate airfare pricing, the thousands of devotees who plan to visit Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh feel like they are under the wings of saviours. Though airlines enjoy the freedom to set ticket prices according to the market, the government’s intervention on the issue hints that the government is committed to making travel essential and economical.

It also sets the trend for other religious and cultural events with higher demand than price, challenging any typical tourist. However, the aviation ministry even preempted that by increasing flight connectivity, hence reducing turbulence for travel.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Demand and Fair Pricing

Although immediate challenges over ticket rates have been addressed, the general debate on airfare control is still up for debate. If the government pushes hard into long-term solutions, it may address these issues by:

• Implementing price caps during religious and cultural events.
• Encouraging more budget airlines to operate on high-demand routes.
• Enhancing railway and road connectivity as alternative travel options.

As the Maha Kumbh Mela continues, stakeholders will see if the airfare trend will continue in addition to the effect of the government’s instructions. Instead, measures to keep travel affordable will be helpful to the devotees and India’s efforts to make ancient traditions mainstream for all.

Conclusion

It’s due to the Maha Kumbh Mela, besides travel reductions due to millions entering the city praying; thus, one of the positive aspects has been the Ministry of Civil Aviation curbing high-priced airlines travelling into Prayagraj, as IndiGo heavily decreased its fares. Whether the same applies to the others remains unsure.

The fact that more flights and better connectivity are provided to the masses depicts the government’s concern for the welfare of people and proper commodity pricing. Therefore, Maha Kumbh is held during these seasons so everyone can visit the holy congregation without much financial damage.