Surat Flyers Pay the Price: Delhi to Surat Airfares 124% Higher Than Ahmedabad

Surat, Gujarat –  In a glaring example of fare disparity in India’s aviation sector, passengers flying from Delhi to Surat are being charged up to 124% more compared to those flying to Ahmedabad, and 65% higher than flights to Vadodara. The revelation, brought to light by members of the We Work for Working Airports group, has sparked outrage among frequent flyers.

For Monday’s flights, Delhi to Surat tickets cost Rs 6,135 on Air India Express and Rs 6,151 on IndiGo. In stark contrast, Delhi to Vadodara flights are priced at Rs 3,699 (IndiGo) and Rs 3,711 (Air India). Even more shocking, Delhi to Ahmedabad fares are as low as Rs 2,738 with SpiceJet.

“It’s nothing short of daylight robbery,” said Rajiv Desai, a frequent business traveler from Surat. “We’re being forced to pay premium fares for low-cost carriers. It’s ironic that Air India Express, which was expected to offer affordable tickets, is now the most expensive.”

The issue runs deeper. When Air India exited Surat Airport on March 3, 2024, the city was portrayed as a hub for budget flyers. However, ever since Air India Express replaced its parent company, hopes of affordable flying from Surat have been shattered. Flyers allege that Air India Express has consistently charged 50% to 100% more than Air India did.

“They are exploiting Surat passengers because we have limited options,” said Meena Shah, a marketing professional. “Many of us still choose to fly from Surat out of convenience, but it feels like we’re being punished for our loyalty.”

While Surat continues to see a rise in passenger traffic, the steep ticket pricing is turning into a burden for travelers. Ironically, despite being served by a low-cost airline, Surat flyers are paying more than travelers from cities served by full-service carriers.

Experts argue that the high fares indicate a failure in fair route pricing mechanisms. Aviation observers believe the situation stems from lack of airline competition at Surat Airport and urge the Ministry of Civil Aviation to intervene.

Meanwhile, passengers continue to demand transparency and parity. “We don’t mind paying fair prices, but this is a clear case of unjust exploitation,” said Manish Bhatt, an IT consultant based in Surat.