CCI seeks airfare data to probe into cartelisation

New Delhi: Anti-trust watchdog Competition Commission of India (CCI) has sought data from the civil aviation ministry to probe whether airlines have formed cartel to increase fares.
“Taking note of civil aviation minister Praful Patel’s recent statements we have written to his ministry seeking information. After that we will decide whether an investigation could be done or not,” said a senior official from the CCI.
Bharat Bhushan, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that some information was already furnished to the commission. “They (CCI) have given us two weeks to furnish the data about airfares. We have already given it to them for some routes. More data will be given to them soon,” said DGCA .
He also said that report of the working group constituted in the ministry to look into consumer interests will be shared with the commission. The working group will submit the report on December 30.
After airfares on certain domestic routes shot up by 200% in November, the civil aviation minister had said that the situation smelt of cartelisation and that the issue of sudden hike in fares could be referred to the CCI as well.
24/12/10 Anindya Upadhyay/Economic Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2010