Most expensive domestic seats on Mumbai flights: Aviation directorate data

The ratio of steep domestic air tickets sold between August and September in India were the highest on flights shuttling in and out of Mumbai, showed data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation

One of the most expensive economy class flight seats sold in October was between Mumbai and Delhi for Rs40,401, a price that equals a Mumbai-London return trip.

The ratio of steep domestic air tickets sold between August and September in India were the highest on flights shuttling in and out of Mumbai (HT File Photo)

Travel portal MakeMyTrip sold its steepest domestic air ticket in September on the same route for Rs. 46,973. Early planners could buy a return journey from Australia at that price.

These were not stray observations.

The ratio of steep domestic air tickets sold between August and September in India were the highest on flights shuttling in and out of Mumbai, showed data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

For instance, in September 0.55% seats on Indigo Airlines flights between Mumbai and Chennai were the costliest. This was also the highest ratio of tickets sold by the budget airline in the expensive fare bucket among 17 domestic routes.

“Air tickets are divided into 10 to 12 price bands. The highest price band tickets are those which are bought closest to the date of travel,” said a senior executive with a private carrier, requesting anonymity. The official added that the portion of costly tickets for a flight depend on several factors such as the distance, rush and airport charges.

The trend was similar across most domestic airlines. On GoAir flights, the highest percentage of dear seats was 1.06% on the Mumbai-Chennai route in September followed by 0.86% seats on the Mumbai-Bengaluru route.

At 0.58%, the expensive seats on the no-frills carrier, SpiceJet’s Mumbai-Chennai route was the second highest, followed by 1.11% seats on the Chennai-Port Blair route.

High price bucket tickets on Jet Airways flights accounted for 0.9% seats on the Mumbai-Chennai and Delhi-Leh route — the highest ratio of dear tickets recorded by the airline in September.

“It is difficult to find out why most steep tickets are sold on flights starting from Mumbai. But the DGCA data would make fliers aware of the fare trends,” said a senior executive with an aviation think tank.

The safety regulator directed the airlines to submit the portion of the steep air ticket sold across 13-17 routes every month since July, following frequent complaints of exorbitant spot fares.