Centre asks airlines to fly more flights to Prayagraj for Kumbh Mela

Union Ministry of Civil Aviation advises airlines to add more flights to Prayagraj for Kumbh Mela, aiming to reduce airfares.

Amid concerns of skyrocketing airfares for the Kumbh Mela event, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday (January 27, 2025) said that airlines have been advised to add more flights to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

In a press statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that 81 additional new flights were introduced in January 2025, taking the total to 132 flights, and that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had advised airlines to add more capacity during the forthcoming Shahi Snan ritual on January 29 and February 3, among other key occasions.

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The Ministry said that Akasa Air will operate flights from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj on January 28 and 29. It will also operate nine flights from Ahmedabad and 12 from Bengaluru to Prayagraj. This would add 4,000 seats.

SpiceJet will also launch flights from Delhi, Chennai, Guwahati, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Jaipur and Hyderabad to Prayagraj, adding approximately 43,000 seats, in February.

“These new flights are part of the ongoing efforts to ensure regional connectivity and accommodate the influx of travellers to Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh period. The addition of these flights is expected to bring down airfares and improve overall accessibility for devotees and tourists,” the Ministry said in its statement.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad national spokesperson Vinod Bansal on Monday wrote on micro-blogging site X that some airlines resorted to an exorbitant hike in airfares. He said the increase was in the range of 200% to 700% due to which devotees faced inconvenience.