'Pilot salaries up 50x but airfares down': Harsh Goenka backs airlines amid IndiGo chaos

As the IndiGo crisis triggers public outrage and pushes airfares sharply upward, industrialist Harsh Goenka used social media to remind people how India’s aviation sector has managed to keep ticket prices relatively low over the years.

In a post on X, Goenka noted that despite aviation turbine fuel (ATF) becoming 20 times costlier over the past 45 years, aircraft prices rising 20-fold, and pilot salaries increasing 50 times, airfare—when adjusted for inflation—has actually dropped.

“Before we judge Indian aviation, a reminder: in 45 years, ATF prices are up 20×, aircraft costs 20×, pilot salaries 50×—yet airfares, adjusted for inflation, have fallen,” he wrote.


He added that people willingly pay ₹5,000 for a 100 km taxi ride but feel upset shelling out the same amount for a 2,500 km flight.

Goenka said criticism of airlines is valid, “but let’s not ignore the economics that keep India flying affordably.”



Airfares have surged after IndiGo abruptly cancelled hundreds of flights, leaving thousands stranded. Even the Delhi High Court observed on Wednesday that tickets once priced around ₹5,000 had jumped to ₹35,000–₹39,000. The court questioned how competing airlines were allowed to take advantage of the situation.

A PTI report also highlighted extraordinary spikes, including a December 6 Kolkata–Mumbai fare touching ₹90,000 and an Air India Mumbai–Bhubaneswar ticket listed at ₹84,485.

To prevent such steep and sudden fare hikes, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has now issued an order imposing fare caps.