Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 22: AAP convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday criticised the Centre’s decision to remove caps on domestic airfares, warning that it could make air travel unaffordable for the middle class.

In a post on social media, Kejriwal said airfares are already rising and the government’s move could further push ticket prices upwards. He asserted that air travel is no longer a luxury but a necessity for the middle class, and called for more effective regulation of fares.

The remarks came a day after the Ministry of Civil Aviation withdrew the temporary fare caps imposed on domestic flights, citing stabilisation in aviation operations.

The caps were introduced last year following a major disruption in the sector, when IndiGo cancelled a large number of flights due to a pilot-rostering crisis, leading to a sharp surge in ticket prices on key routes.

Under the earlier system, one-way economy fares for flights up to 500 km were capped at Rs 7,500, while routes between 1,000 and 1,500 km—such as Delhi-Mumbai—had a ceiling of Rs 15,000. For sectors beyond 1,500 km, fares were limited to Rs 18,000.

With the removal of these caps, industry observers expect greater pricing flexibility for airlines, though concerns remain over potential fare hikes impacting passengers.