Indian carriers have taken steps to address the void left by Go First’s exit by launching new flights on the airline’s popular routes. However, the aftermath of Go First’s insolvency has resulted in a significant surge in spot fares, with prices on these routes skyrocketing up to five times their previous rates.
According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, Go First operated 52 weekly flights on the Delhi-Ahmedabad route, making it the airline’s sixth-busiest route. To compensate for Go First’s absence, Air India has introduced 14 additional weekly flights on this route.
Unfortunately, spot fares on the Delhi-Ahmedabad route have surged by approximately 400%, reaching Rs 16,585 over the past month, as reported by travel portal ixigo. The escalating airfares have become a pressing concern for the civil aviation ministry, prompting them to urge airlines to maintain reasonable pricing on these affected routes.
A senior government official acknowledged, “We have observed a significant impact on airfares, particularly on routes such as Delhi-Pune and Delhi-Ahmedabad, following Go First’s departure.”
In April, Go First operated 52 weekly flights on the Delhi-Pune route, as indicated by Cirium data. However, since Go First ceased operations, no other airlines have introduced new flights on this route. Consequently, spot fares on the Delhi-Pune route have surged from Rs 5,048 on April 24 to Rs 15,093 on May 24.
The government official noted that airlines have been advised to increase flight frequencies, but their ability to do so is hampered by a shortage of fresh capacity, including new aircraft.
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