Govt to meet airlines to introduce single fares

New Delhi: The aviation ministry is going to call a meeting with airlines next week on their non-compliance of shifting to a single fare system as well as to seek clarification on their alleged cartel-like behaviour in hiking fares simultaneously last month. DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi said here on Friday that airlines had sent their replies on the notices issued on these twin issues.
"They have essentially said there's no cartelisation and that fares were hiked due to poor demand in this lean season. The replies have been sent to the ministry which will call a meeting next week where airlines will be advised to have transparent fare mechanism. Also the single fare is under consideration. Appropriate action will be taken in this regard," Zaidi said.
Apart from Zaidi, the Airports Authority of India also had some comforting words for passengers. AAI chairman V P Aggarwal has said that the state-run corporation has been allowed in principle to charge a development fee from outgoing passengers at some airports but its amount will be much less than what's being charged at the private airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
Aggarwal said private airlines owe about Rs 400 crore to AAI and national carrier Air India's dues are Rs 700 crore.
07/03/09 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Mar 2009