Even as the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of domestic passengers was 19 per cent in FY18 over FY14, average airfares dropped by 18 per cent in 2017, Civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu said today. The Narendra Modi government has so far taken  many initiatives such as c, to increase air connectivity across the country since it came to power, highlighted Prabhu. 

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Taking to Twitter, Prabhu said,"Average airfare fell by 18% in 2017 over average airfare in 2015, making air travel more affordable for everyone #SaafNiyatSahiVikas." "Indian scheduled airlines carried more than 12 cr domestic passengers during FY18 as against 6.1 cr in FY14, recording growth of 19% CAGR. Strategic policies resulting in enabling more Indians to fly than ever before," he posted on Ministry of Civil Aviation twitter handle.

The minister also said that a comprehensive aviation capacity expansion program NABH NIRMAN has been envisaged to cater to one billion air passengers over the next decade. Prabhu visited the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France on Friday and this is what he posted then: "Growing Indian aviation sector, stress on regional connectivity leading to more demand. It is also an opportunity for global aircraft manufacturers".

Over the years airfares have gone down drastically as the number of passengers keeps rising. In some cases, ticket fares have fallen even below Rs 2000. Furthermore, the regional connectivity scheme UDAN is likely to increase air connectivity in the country further and that too at affordable prices.