TBM Staff - Mumbai
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Thursday pledged to investigate allegations of abrupt fare hikes when MPs attempt to book tickets on Air Vistara, following complaints from MPs and a prompt from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. During Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, DMK member Dayanidhi Maran raised the issue, alleging that the initial fare shown for the Chennai-Delhi route is around INR 25,000, but by the time the booking process is completed, the fare increases two to three times.
Maran speculated whether some technology from TCS, a software giant belonging to the Tata group, could be responsible for the fare increases. Speaker Birla noted similar complaints from other MPs and emphasised that the matter should be thoroughly investigated since the cost of the tickets is covered by Parliament. In response, Minister Naidu assured that an inquiry would be conducted.
Parliament sources mentioned that MPs are entitled to travel by business class. Addressing another query, Naidu stated that since assuming his role, he has been striving to make air travel affordable for the common people. However, he explained that airfares are market-driven and influenced by various factors, with the ministry prioritising customer affordability.
Naidu also addressed allegations of high airfares during holiday seasons on international routes, explaining that the government does not regulate airline fares. He elaborated that airline pricing follows a global practice of multiple levels and dynamic fare pricing, where tickets bought in advance are cheaper. According to Rule 135(1) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, airlines are free to set tariffs based on various factors. He assured that the DGCA’s Tariff Monitoring Unit ensures compliance with established tariffs and that there is no current proposal to change the regulatory framework on airfare.
