Flight cuts may double air fares in Mumbai

NEW DELHI: Passengers and airlines face a winter of discontent where flying in and out of Mumbai is concerned. With the main runway of the already constrained Mumbai airport to be closed for repairs for almost six months from the year-end, the number of flights will be slashed, and airlines have warned fares could almost double as a consequence.

Fares typically rise by up to 50% in the peak travel season, beginning September, despite airlines adding some capacity.

Now with capacity at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport ( CSIA) slated to drop, it would mean fares almost doubling on reduced capacity and higher demand, a CEO of a leading domestic airline, not wishing to be identified, told The Times of India.