Be careful when you increase airfares during festive season. PM Modi is watching

Airlines have a habit of inflating airfares during festive season to rake in more moolah. But this is not going well with the passengers, who have put this issue to PM Narendra Modi.

Modi received a representation that airfares were high during the Onam festival, which is celebrated in Kerala. At that time, many Keralites, who are working in the Gulf nations, come home to meet their families and are forced to shell out high prices of air tickets.

The prime minister expressed concern over steep rise in airfares during festive seasons and has asked whether there is a way to handle the issue.

In this regard, the ministry has started looking for various options to address the issue, also noting that regulating airfares would not be a way out.

Last week, Civil Aviation Ministry had said the issue of predatory pricing was a concern of a majority of Parliamentarians and as well as the Prime minister, adding carriers need to reduce fares and not hike them particularly when it comes to emergency travel like in medical emergency.

As per Sharma, a mechanism can also be there through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or through national carrier Air India to deal with the issue.

(Image: Reuters)