Parliament Question: Reduction in Frequency of Flights from Prayagraj to Mumbai

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3076 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6th August 2026 ) REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY OF FLIGHTS FROM PRAYAGRAJ TO MUMBAI 3076. SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government is aware that various airlines have recently reduced the frequency of flights from Prayagraj to Mumbai wherein the flight operated by Akasa Air on all seven days of the week has been reduced to only one day a week from July and the flight operated by IndiGo on six days a week has been reduced to only four days a week and if so, the reasons therefor; (b) whether the Government proposes to issue directions to the airlines to increase the frequency of flights in view of increasing inconvenience faced by passengers and if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether it is a fact that currently no air service is being operated from Prayagraj under Viability Gap Funding (VGF) as the period of the Regional Connectivity Scheme has expired and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) to (c): With the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation sector was deregulated. Airlines provide air services to specific destinations based on traffic demand and commercial viability, subject to compliance with the extant guidelines. As air traffic demand is seasonal in nature, airlines periodically optimise their route networks and plan route expansion after considering the prevailing operating costs during the relevant period. Accordingly, M/s Indigo and M/s Akasa Airlines have informed their plans to restore flights from Prayagraj to Mumbai from October 2026.Currently, no RCS flights are in operation from Prayagraj under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support period of the UDAN Scheme. ******