Airlines cock a snook at Patel, keep fares exorbitant

New Delhi: The 'exorbitant' fares charged by domestic carriers on some trunk routes have forced the government to haul up airlines and issue notices asking for an explanation on high fares.
“Fares on lower and higher price band on every sector will have to be notified. It has to be in the public domain on each airline's website on what would be the fares on higher price band,” civil aviation minister Praful Patel said reporters on the sidelines of Ficci’s aviation conference.
Despite a tough posturing by government, the airlines remain defiant. A round trip on Delhi-Mumbai economy ticket priced at Rs 35,999, on country's leading airline Jet Airways tops the fare advertised for the launch of its non-stop Delhi-Milan flight, making air travel within India way more expensive than flying to exotic locales abroad. Similarly, 'low-fare' carriers like Spice Jet, IndiGo and Go Air too are asking for up to Rs 20,000 for a return journey on the country's busiest sector, Delhi-Mumbai, if tickets are booked at a day's notice.
“The fare charged by airlines are excessive. A fair price on the Delhi-Mumbai sector would be between Rs 6,000-7,000 one way,” said an aviation consultant, on condition of anonymity.
26/11/10 Indian Express

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2010