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Tag: Directorate General of Civil Aviation

  • Ahead of Diwali, Aviation Body Asks Airlines to Lower Airfares

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has intervened to stop steep pricing spikes ahead of the Diwali season as the airline industry prepares for one of its busiest travel times of the year. Amid a spike in passenger demand, the regulator has instructed domestic airlines to maintain fair pricing and expand flying capacity.

    The DGCA said in a statement released on Saturday that it had “proactively taken up the issue with airlines” to make sure travellers aren’t hit with exorbitant ticket costs over the holiday season. It further stated that the action comes after a study of airfare patterns on important routes.

    Airlines Responded to Aviation Body

    Major carriers have announced the deployment of hundreds more flights through October and November in response to the regulator’s advisory. IndiGo, which currently has the most market share in India (64.2%), announced that it would add about 730 flights in 42 sectors.

    Together, Air India and Air India Express will expand their travel schedule by about 486 flights to 20 destinations. SpiceJet plans to roll out 546 more services in 38 sectors. In order to safeguard passengers’ interests throughout the holiday season, the DGCA will continue to exercise strict monitoring over airline pricing and flight capacities, according to a DGCA representative.

    Passengers’ criticism of the DGCA has grown in recent years because to the sharp changes in fares during popular times like Diwali, Christmas, and summer vacations. According to officials, the government has the authority to step in if rates increase significantly, even though airlines are allowed to set their own prices under India’s open skies policy.

    DGCA’s Recent Flights Data

    Domestic airlines carried 1,107.26 lakh passengers between January and August 2025, a 4.99% increase over the same period the previous year, according to DGCA data.

    However, due primarily to monsoon-related interruptions, traffic in August saw a slight decline of 1.4% from July. With a market share of almost 64%, IndiGo remains the market leader in India.

    The Air India Group, which consists of Vistara, Air India Express, and Air India, comes in second with 27.3%. SpiceJet’s market share has decreased to barely 2%, while Akasa Air, the nation’s newest entry, has maintained consistent growth with a 5.4% stake. The combined market share of smaller regional airlines like Fly Big, Fly91, and Star Air is less than 1%.

    Quick Shots

    •DGCA steps in ahead of Diwali to prevent steep airfare hikes
    during the busy festive travel season.

    •Regulator directs airlines to keep ticket prices fair and
    expand flight capacity amid rising passenger demand.

    •Strict monitoring of fares and schedules will continue to
    protect passengers’ interests.

    •Domestic air traffic: 1,107.26 lakh passengers carried from
    Jan–Aug 2025, up 4.99% YoY.

    •August traffic dipped 1.4% due to monsoon disruptions.

  • SpiceJet Under ‘Enhanced Surveillance’ Due to ‘Certain Deficiencies’ Found in DGCA Audit

    Reports of flight cancellations and financial difficulties have forced the cash-strapped SpiceJet to once again operate under the “enhanced surveillance” of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This measure will take effect immediately. This is in response to the aviation regulator’s discovery of “certain deficiencies” in a special audit that was conducted earlier this month. This follows the Dubai Airport’s recent decision to deny SpiceJet customers boarding for non-payment of dues.

    A special audit of SpiceJet engineering facilities was carried out on 7th and 8th August 2024, which revealed certain deficiencies, according to a statement issued on August 29 by the DGCA. The purpose of the audit was to assess the airline’s operational safety in light of reports of flight cancellations and financial stress. As a result, spot checks and night surveillance of SpiceJet’s operations will be increased.

    Continuous irregularities in SpiceJet has made DGCA to take these steps

    The airline was once again placed under intensified surveillance by the DGCA due to its past record and special audit. During a special drive of spot checks in 2022, following a series of incidents reported on the SpiceJet fleet, the airline was required to confirm to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that all reported defects and malfunctions had been fixed before releasing aircraft for operations. “The airline was once again subject to enhanced surveillance in 2023 in response to reports of financial distress,” the DGCA’s document said.

    With immediate effect, SpiceJet is once again subject to increased surveillance based on its historical record and the special audit conducted in August 2024. In order to guarantee the safety of activities, it was noted that there would be an increase in the number of spot checks and night surveillance.

    Recent incident at Dubai Airport added pain to SpiceJet’s agony

    The most recent episode, in which passengers were prevented from boarding a SpiceJet flight at the Dubai airport, was the second incidence of its planes departing from Dubai that had been disrupted within a month.

    According to a report that was published by the news agency, SpiceJet was forced to conduct a number of flights from Dubai that were empty because customers were not permitted to board. Enhanced supervision by the DGCA was reportedly implemented on the airline in July 2023 due to the fact that it was experiencing financial difficulties.

    Members of the crew are placed on sabbatical

    Due to financial difficulties, SpiceJet has chosen to temporarily restrict 150 cabin crew workers for a period of three months. In the midst of financial, legal, and lender issues, the budget airline is running with a smaller fleet. There are about 22 aircraft in its operating fleet at the moment.

    An airline representative announced on August 29 that 150 members of the cabin staff would be placed on unpaid leave for a period of three months.

    The spokesperson stated that this action has been decided in light of the present slow travel season and the smaller fleet size, with the goal of ensuring the organization’s long-term viability.

    While on absence from work, cabin crew members will still be considered employees of SpiceJet and will have all of their benefits, including paid time off and health insurance.

    Why Was the Chairman of SpiceJet Ajay Singh Arrested?
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    StartupTalkyShalini Rath