Slash fuel surcharge now, demand fliers

Mumbai: Mumbai's fliers want airlines to reduce fares now. And they do not want to listen to any of the reasons aviation majors may have in not doing that immediately.
Airlines had taken barely a couple of days to hike fares and cut down on facilities when fuel prices rose (fares were raised six times) last year, fliers recalled, adding airlines should be similarly prompt in slashing fares when fuel prices dipped.
Oil companies announced a 16 per cent cut in aviation turbine fuel (ATF, also called jet fuel) prices on Sunday. But all the airlines have said there is no question of reducing fuel surcharges right now.
"...if we were sharing the brunt with airlines in case of a hike, should we also not benefit from a cut in fuel prices?'' Anoop Varma said.
He is a regular on some domestic sectors and remembers how he was stranded in Guwahati a month back as most airlines have cancelled flights on the Guwahati-Kolkata sector.
TOI has already reported how the number of passengers travelling by air dipped by 5 lakh between June and July this year after the hike in fares. It's not only passengers who feel fares should dip in proportion to the cut in ATF price. Experts, too, say airlines should at least slash the fuel surcharge.
02/09/08 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2008