Airlines warned on single fare

New Delhi: Indian carriers are so busy raising fares and seeking support from the government these days that they simply don't remember to take
consumer-friendly steps now. The government had made it mandatory for domestic airlines to switch over to a single, all-inclusive fare by June 10 where passengers are not mislead by a low-sounding basic fares only to be topped up by hefty taxes and surcharge indicated separately by a puny asterix.
While the deadline lapsed a fortnight back, some airlines still list the basic fares on their websites with other charges being separately shown as add-ons. Now a livid Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has shot off a warning to airlines, telling them to get their act together or get ready to face strict action, seeking an action taken report latest by June 30.
".... It is in your own interest that laws are followed. Vague replies like the matter is under consideration or a reference has been made to the head office will not suffice," DGCA warned airlines on Monday.
Since several directives to have a single fare policy for Indian carriers (something that international airlines like Singapore Airlines have always used) had no impact, the government had issued a gazette notification to this effect on April 16, 2009. This law made it mandatory for airlines to show the composite total amount payable on all their sales points. The break-up was allowed to be shown separately.
25/06/09 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jun 2009