Maha Kumbh 2025: IndiGo ramps up Prayagraj flights, says airfares have stabilised

Days after aviation watchdog DGCA directed airlines to rationalise airfares for Prayagraj flights, IndiGo on Thursday said ticket prices have stabilised, and the airline has ramped up operations on the route to 900 flights for the ongoing Maha Kumbh.

With lakhs of devotees thronging Prayagraj for the world’s largest religious gathering, airfares and bookings had surged sharply, raising concerns over affordability.

On Saturday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) urged airlines to further increase capacity by adding more flights and rationalising fares.

IndiGo said it is reallocating capacity from other parts of its network to cater to the influx of passengers.

"The airline has also ensured to stabilise airfares and is committed to providing the best possible travel experience to all its customers," it said in a release.

The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will conclude on February 26.

"For this special period, the airline will now operate more than 1,65,000 seats to/from Prayagraj, that is more than double its normal capacity to the airport.

"During this period, IndiGo will connect Prayagraj to 10 locations in India, adding connectivity from Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Jaipur, over and above existing connectivity from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Raipur and Bhubaneswar," the release said.

To accommodate the surge in demand, the airline has also increased capacity on existing routes by adding frequencies and deploying larger A321 aircraft.

"Overall, the airline will operate around 900 flights to/from the city, up from 490 regular services," it added.

Meanwhile, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has written to DGCA, seeking a reduction in "exorbitant" airfares.

"The high airfares are making it difficult for people to plan travel to attend Maha Kumbh," Joshi said in a social media post on Wednesday.

Under current regulations, airfares are deregulated and not controlled by the government.