MP says migrant workers with limited income working in Gulf countries are forced to pay high airfares. File
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Leaders from various Opposition parties have called for a cap on airfares and the establishment of a quasi-judicial body to legally monitor them, arguing that ticket prices have become “exploitative” and “excessive” especially during festive season.
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The Members of Parliament were speaking in Lok Sabha during a discussion on Private Member’s resolution moved by Congress leader Shafi Paramabil on July 26, 2024 where he has sought “a reasonable upper limit”, a joint meeting with airline operators and relevant stakeholders to discuss excessive airfare during vacations as well as a quasi-judicial body to regulate and monitor air trariff “ethically and equitably”. The plea was made in the context of semi-skilled migrant workers with limited income working in Gulf countries forced to pay exorbitant airfares.
Speaking during the discussion, Congress MP from Kerala Dean Kuriakose requested for a “reasonable” fixing of airfares as “looting” of travellers was unacceptable. “The PM is vocal for his love for the NRI community. It is a moral duty of the government to take care of the blue collar worker,” Mr. Kuriakose said underlining that remittances from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries accounted for 30% of total remittances in 2023-2024.
“It is high time that the government decides to take concrete steps to ensure airfares are not exploitative in the name of market dynamics,” he said while questioning how an airfare of ₹19,000 in off-season could rise to ₹77,000 during peak season.
He also sought the implementation of the recommendation made in the 375th Parliamentary Standing Committee report of empowering the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with quasi-judicial powers to impose price caps or penalise airlines for engaging in excessive airfares. He also suggested that the DGCA take suo motu cognisance of the exploitative nature of airfares and refer the matter to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to examine the “cartel behaviour” airlines and the mechanics of peak season pricing so that the correct facts could emerge.
“We are not asking for charity or discount,” he said.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra called for air tariff regulation during festivals such as Durga Puja when high airfares prevent people from visiting their families in West Bengal, and also called for an “airfare band”. She said while there was a duopoly in the aviation sector where IndiGo and Air India control 90% of the passenger share, efforts should be made to ensure that last-minute ticket prices were not as high as 10 times. She also urged for capping of airfares for pensioners and senior citizens at “25% or 50%” who could be given four such tickets per year.
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Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria said BJP’s slogan was one of “opportunity in difficult times” such as the kind witnessed during Maha Kumbh festival when costly airfares prevented the common man to travel to Prayagraj. He was taking a swipe at BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy who had earlier defended why airlines levy high airfares.
The SP leader said that while the DGCA has constituted the tariff monitoring unit, it was ineffective as its job is to monitor whether the airlines levy the same fare that is displayed on their tariff sheet published on their website as these were determined “at their own will”. He also reiterated the demands for a joint-committee and a quasi-judicial body on regulating and monitoring airfares.
“How many times will you slaughter the same hen,” asked Independent MP from Bihar Rajesh Ranjan talking about charges to be paid at multiple points by air travellers. He called airport operators “terrorists” who made money from food and other retail sales, and yet it was the common man who paid for CISF security at airports. “People pay in the sky, and on the ground,” he lamented. The MP too said that “if we were a Hindu country, air travel during Hindu festivals such as Durga Pooja, Kali Pooja, and Chhath Pooja should be offered for free and the cost should be recovered from Adani and Ambani” evoking laughter in the House.
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal appealed to the House that the government should think about controlling exorbitant airfares during festivals and emergencies as this was “the need of the hour”.
BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who spoke earlier on, presented the airline’s perspective and stated that several factors played a role in determining airfares including the cost of aviation turbine fuel, the VAT on it, aircraft and engine leasing costs that are paid in dollars, ground handling charges as well as user development fee paid to airport operators. He argued that airline seats were a perishable commodity and their fares were determined by demand and supply mechanics. He also blamed increasing airport costs and remarked “airlines are poor, but airports are richer at present.”
He also blamed the common man’s “psyche” for expecting lower airfares. “With Air India and Indian Airlines, there was a distortion in the market, which the PM removed. This distortion has entered into the psyche of people, which is prompting us to say that fares are high,” hinting at government support for the erstwhile national carrier Air India that led to subsidised air travel.
The Rajya Sabha also took up a discussion on the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, before moving on to the Private Member’s Business (resolutions). The Bill deals with resolving disputes between lessors and airline companies over aircraft, engine and other parts.
Published – March 29, 2025 02:22 am IST