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The government has asked airlines to devise a mechanism to ensure reasonable airfares amid a surge in air ticket prices, particularly on certain routes that were earlier served by Go First.
In the case of the unfortunate Odisha tragedy, airlines have been advised to provide free carriage (cargo) services to the families of the deceased, the civil aviation ministry said.
During an hour-long meeting of the airlines advisory group, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia shared his concerns about the steep rise in airfares on certain routes.
Scindia also told airlines that they need to keep a “tight check” on airfares during calamities and take a humanitarian view with regard to airfares to and from the affected region. On Saturday, MoCA had advised airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar and other airports in Odisha in view of Friday’s tragic train accident near Balasore in the state. It had also advised carriers to allow cancellation and rescheduling of flights due to the accident without penal charges.
