The Aryavarth Express:
New Delhi : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday released the summer schedule for domestic airlines, which will be in effect from March 29 to October 24, 2026.
In its notification, the DGCA advised passengers to check their respective airline websites and stay in touch with carriers for any last-minute changes due to operational requirements.
In a parallel development, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has withdrawn the temporary fare caps on domestic air travel, effective March 23. The move ends a price-control mechanism that had been introduced in December 2025 to curb sharp increases in ticket prices.
According to the ministry, the fare caps were initially imposed following large-scale disruptions involving IndiGo, which had led to a spike in airfares and reduced capacity. The measure aimed to protect passengers and maintain affordability during that period.
The government noted that the situation has now stabilized, with airline operations returning to normal and capacity largely restored. Based on this improvement, authorities decided that fare restrictions were no longer necessary.
However, even as pricing has been deregulated, the ministry has urged airlines to maintain discipline and ensure fares remain reasonable and transparent. It cautioned that any unjustified surge in ticket prices—especially during peak demand or disruptions—would be closely monitored and could invite action.
The ministry also stated that it will continue to track airfare trends in real time to safeguard passenger interests.
