Sri Vijaya Puram, May 28 — Budget airline IndiGo has formally addressed growing criticism over steep airfares to and from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, attributing the persistent price surge to its dynamic pricing model and sustained demand on key mainland routes.
“The airfares are dependent on dynamic pricing, and as long as demand sustains, the price will remain at similar points,” the airline said in a statement to The Wave Andaman. The comment, which offers no indication of fare moderation or regional concessions, has only deepened public frustration.
Islanders have reported one-way fares regularly exceeding ₹20,000 even on routine routes such as Chennai and Kolkata. While dynamic pricing is standard across the aviation industry, its impact on geographically isolated regions like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands—where air travel is the only viable option—has left many feeling stranded.
A System Stacked Against the Public
For most residents, airfare has become a debilitating cost. Students returning to university, patients traveling for medical treatment, families visiting relatives, and even small business owners are all struggling to cope with the financial strain. “Even after the holiday season ended, we expected a drop,” said a travel agent in Sri Vijaya Puram. “But the fares haven’t budged. The airlines know we have no alternative.”
The hardship, however, is not felt equally. Senior government officials, particularly those from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and officers on central deputation, typically have their flight expenses reimbursed by the government. This reimbursement policy effectively insulates them from the soaring costs that are crippling the average islander.
“The ones who can influence policy never actually face this burden,” said a local resident. “They travel at the taxpayer’s expense while we have to think twice before booking a ticket for an emergency.”
This disparity has become a growing point of resentment across the islands. Locals say that government inaction on the issue reflects a larger disconnect between decision-makers and the people affected by those decisions.
The situation is particularly grim for patients referred by the government to hospitals on the mainland. While the local administration does cover treatment costs under certain schemes, it does not always extend support for travel, which can be the costliest part of the journey. In some cases, families have had to borrow money just to afford the flight to reach care.
Algorithmic Apathy
Despite repeated demands for fare regulation or special concessions for remote regions, there has been no movement from either the Ministry of Civil Aviation or the airline operators. The market-driven pricing system continues unabated, with no regard for regional sensitivity or affordability.
Dynamic pricing, while defensible in competitive, high-frequency markets, has shown its harshest face in regions like Andaman, where airline seats are not a choice but a necessity. The model responds to demand but ignores context: medical emergencies, lack of alternatives, and the absence of surface connectivity.
Even as the monsoon season approaches—traditionally a period of low tourist footfall and lower fares—prices remain stubbornly high. With algorithms dictating rates, seasonal logic appears to have lost relevance. Travel agencies, too, have expressed helplessness, saying they are often unable to secure lower fares even with advance planning or group bookings.
Until corrective action is taken—whether through price caps, route-specific subsidies, or a relook at how dynamic pricing applies to remote territories—the skies over Andaman will remain open, but accessible only to the privileged few who can afford the cost or don’t have to pay it themselves.
