Parliamentary panel wants air fares capped

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In view of the increasing demand for air travel, the airline companies are continuously increasing air fares. But the arbitrariness of the airline companies in the name of fare will no longer work. A parliamentary panel has recommended that the Ministry of Civil Aviation fix a “reasonable upper fare limit” for all airlines. This will increase the reach of the common man for air transport.

In view of the increase in air fares, the Parliamentary Committee has suggested to the Ministry of Aviation to impose capping on air fares. The report of the Parliamentary Committee presented in Parliament on Thursday said that to keep air travel within the reach of common citizens, the ministry should implement reasonable capping for maximum fares on all flights. Along with this, the ministry should encourage airlines to implement maximum capping.

This report regarding air fare has been submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. It has been said in the report that the ministry should also prepare a system to implement the ‘price lock’ option to all airlines. In which customers can reserve their seats with or without a nominal fee. With this, customers will get the facility to reserve seats without paying for the ticket first.

The panel headed by YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy said in its report that the Ministry of Civil Aviation should impose a reasonable upper fare cap keeping in mind the cost of operating the aircraft, service features, benefits and prevailing tariffs etc. This rule should be for all airlines. This will increase the reach of the common man for air travel.

These recommendations have come after airfares jumped sharply when Go First filed for insolvency in May. Some sectors like Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Leh, Delhi-Goa, Mumbai-Leh etc saw one-way fares of up to Rs 50,000. Usually, during the busy season fares spike leading to a rush at airports.