Eight companies have been selected to operate helicopter services from helipads at Guptakashi, Phata and Sersi to Kedarnath.  | Photo Credit: ANI

Helicopter operators providing Kedarnath shuttle services have asked Uttarakhand government to introduce a fuel surcharge to cover the cost of operations following a hike in aviation turbine fuel price.

Shuttle services to Kedarnath are operated from three locations in Mandakini valley. Ticket rates are approved by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority following a tender process. Operators are seeking a relief from government as these rates were approved before the fuel price revision in April. 

“ Continued fare caps are now making operations commercially unsustainable on a day to day basis. Operators are facing mounting losses, threatening continuity of services that are critical to pilgrims and the local economy,” said Business Aircraft Operators Association president Harsh Vardhan Sharma.

Shuttle service

Eight companies have been selected to operate helicopter services from helipads at Guptakashi, Phata and Sersi to Kedarnath. Ticket prices vary from ₹6,300 to over ₹12,700 depending on the route. The shuttle service began from April 21 and will run till mid-June.

While oil companies have reduced ATF prices by 25 per cent from June 1, helicopter firms continue to face challenge.

While the government has limited the fuel price hike for domestic airlines to 25 per cent, no such capping exists for non scheduled operators which include helicopter companies and charter firms.

Helicopter operators have been able to partially offset the costs for Chardham charter flights but ticket prices for shuttle service to Kedarnath has been pre-determined as per the bids. 

An operator said seats on charter flights are mostly sold by travel agents. “As many of them had been booked months earlier it is difficult to revise prices now. However we have been able to raise ticket price for around 25 per cent of the passengers,” an operator said. 

Published on June 1, 2026