Civil Aviation Minister Addresses Skyrocketing Airfares and Grounded Planes in Parliament

In Lok Sabha's Question Hour, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu tackled issues of soaring airfares and flight delays. Addressing parliamentarians, he emphasized market-driven airfare setting and grounded planes due to engine troubles. With 1,200 aircraft on order, the ministry aims to stabilize the situation.

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu addressed pressing concerns about skyrocketing airfares and grounded planes during Thursday's Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Responding to multiple queries from parliamentarians, Kinjarapu reiterated his commitment to making air travel more affordable while citing market-driven factors behind current airfare rates.

The minister highlighted that the determination of airfare is largely governed by market forces. 'This is a market-driven approach that airlines use for deciding the airfares,' he stated. Kinjarapu also provided an update on the number of aircraft currently grounded due to engine issues, attributing this to additional pressure on the existing fleet and subsequent price hikes. 'Currently, out of approximately 800 planes, nearly 120 are grounded due to engine problems, adding stress to our operating fleet and causing fare inflation,' he explained. He added that 1,200 new aircraft are on order, promising timely deliveries to mitigate the existing burden.

Congress MP Shafi Parambil raised issues concerning exorbitant airfares for Kerala NRIs, particularly during emergencies. Parambil lamented the inflated ticket prices that prevent many from visiting home. The minister expressed empathy, shedding light on the complexities of airfare dynamics.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran shared personal anecdotes of fare surges during the payment process. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged the minister to probe the matter. 'The DGCA's Tariff Monitoring Unit will investigate these complaints to prevent future occurrences,' Kinjarapu vowed. TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay inquired about a second airport for Kolkata, to which Kinjarapu responded affirmatively, pending state support and land availability.

(With inputs from agencies.)