New Delhi: Even before the start of the festive season, airfares skyrocketed across the country. Following the rise in fares, the common people will have
to face considerable difficulties.
Following the expected burden on consumers, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written to the Union Minister, demanding a curb on the airfares.
According to reports airfares have been hiked by around 50 to 100 per cent during the festive season. This has led to air travel becoming extremely expensive. This has become a major cause of worry for those staying away from their hometown and who had hoped to take fligts to their destinations. The rise in airfares would directly impact their pocket.
In view of this, the CTI has written to the Civil Aviation Minister, Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, demanding a curb in hike of airfares and the arbitrary actions of the airlines. The CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said that a research carried out by the body found that the air tickets were cheap, just a few days back. The same tickets are now being sold at more than double the cost, he added.
Goyal said that it was noticed that in the past few days, airlines like IndiGo and Air India, increased the ticket fares by almost 50 to 10 per cent. This has dealt a crushing blow to the middle and upper middle class people, he added.
He said that the festive season has started with the beginning of Ganpati Puja and it will continue till Diwali and Chhath Puja. In such a scenario, the frequency of air travel which people undertake will also increase. He said that at such a time, an increase in fare process, that too by 100% is clearly arbitrary.
Routes on which fares have risen
Just a few days back, the airfare between Delhi to Mumbai, for both up and down journeys was Rs 10,000. But now it has risen to between Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000. The fare for the Delhi-Ahmedabad route was Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000. This is now anything between Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000.
The airfare between Delhi and Bengaluru is usually between Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000. But at this time it is showing as Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 across all ticket booking apps. As far as Delhi-Kolkata airfare is concerned. It used to be Rs 11,000, but now a flight between the destination would cost customers, Rs 20,000.
Apart from this, IndiGo has also increased the price of tickets for infants. So now if you are travelling with a child between 3 days to 2 years old, you will have to pay Rs 3,000 instead of the earlier amount of RS 2,000 that you were being charged by the airlines. This, after the baby does not even get a seat in the plane.
Airlines reduced domestic capacity
Goyal further said that according to the aviation data agency OAG, companies reduced domestic capacity by 5.6% in September alone. IndiGo has reduced its seat capacity by 4.5%, and Air India by 8.8%.
This after the 2 companies are controlling around 90% of the aviation market. According to Goyal, decreasing seating capacity and increasing fares during the festive season is clearly loot.
The CTI has demanded that the Union government immediately rein in these airlines and fix the airfares and get the fares reduced too.
