Par panel grills Civil Aviation officials on steep airfares

New Delhi: With airfares spiralling, members of a Parliamentary panel grilled top officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry and demanded quick action to curb overpricing of air tickets .
Members of the Committee on Estimates, which met earlier this week, expressed deep concern over the phenomenal rise in airfares in the recent past and wondered whether anybody had control over selling airtickets.
A section of the members sought to hold the open market economy responsible for the present situation and favoured setting up of a body to ensure that the airfare do not shoot up suddenly in the future.
"Somebody has to be responsible for controlling airfares. The situation should not be allowed to go out of hand like the recent past," said a member of the Committee headed by Francisco Sardinha.
The Competition Commission of India has asked its investigation wing to inquire into the possible cartel-like behaviour in fare hike by airlines.
The Commission has also asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to share information about the fare hike by airlines with it.
The suo motu action by the Commission follows media reports and the statements by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on steep hike in fares announced by airlines in non-peak season last month.
Some members were concerned over the delays in flights due to various reasons and wanted the airliners, at least the national carrier, to strictly follow schedules.
Members were also worried over the financial health of Air India and referred to reports in a section of the media that the national carrier would be unable to even pay salaries to their employees after March 2011.
24/12/10 PTI/Economic Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2010