Flyers demand for rational pricing of air tickets

Special Correspondent

Silchar: There is no uniformity in the pricing of air tickets by different airliners. In fact, there has been voice of protest and resentment against the abnormal hike in air fares by passengers. It has been a long felt demand from the flyers that air fares should be regulated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. On festive and other occasions, the airliners go for raising the air fares on no plausible ground or explanation. If railway fares can be regulated and fixed in accordance with the distance and also the preference of the passengers for travelling in ordinary or reserved compartments, why should not the same yardstick be applied in respect of airliners?

The Centre which pursues Act East Policy for the overall development and welfare of the people of northeast should give a serious thought to this problem of fluctuating pricing of air tickets. The other day, the Chief Minister of Tripura Biplob Deb wrote a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu, drawing his attention to the unregulated pricing of air fares. He pointed out not long ago, the air fare between Agartala and Kolkata was Rs.2000 which has now being hiked to Rs.13 to 15 thousand. On many occasions, tickets are not available for which patients requiring treatment at Kolkata cannot be taken.

This is exactly the problem at Silchar airport. Though the number of flights operated by Air India, Jet and Spice Jet have increased, air fares remain unregulated, pinching the pockets of flyers. It was thought that with the implementation of ‘Open Air Policy’ of the Centre, passengers of northeast in particular would be benefitted. But this has not happened. Even if seats remain vacant, the airliners charge inflated fare. It is found if tickets are booked three or four months earlier, the air fares are reasonably low.

Considering the general grievances of flyers, the Competition Commission, according to a competent source here, is looking into the fact of bringing similarity in prices of different airlines for the same route and the other is about hike in prices of tickets. The algorithms followed by airliners to determine fares are also being looked into, the source added to say. There can be no justification in steep fluctuations in fares during festive seasons or in the event of natural calamities. The Competition Commission has taken up a set of cases of alleged price fixing by the airlines.

If the pricing pattern followed by airliners is examined, then it is said in competent circles that the basis of hiking fares can be found out. Media reports say that some members of the Rajya Sabha sought a cap on air fares since these are deregulated. Quite disturbing is that airlines in chorus go for similar pricing on unfavourable situations. A fact that emerged during the Jat agitation in 2016 was that all airlines on the same day decided to hike the prices. The Director General of Civil Aviation is also seized of the matter in respect of the fixing of fares and the methodology adopted by them. With the Competition Commission of India taking up the matter in coordination with the Director General of Civil Aviation, it is expected that ultimately a way will be evolved to rationalize and regularize the pricing of air tickets.

Also Read: Cachar News