Commoners also deserve air travel; Malayali expatriates in quandary during Onam

Times are such that the common man can now only dream of Air travel, considering the recent rise in ticket rates. In the pretext of increasing fuel prices, the Middle East conflict and the festival season, the airline companies are milking money from ordinary passengers. Various domestic and foreign airlines cited the global economic slowdown and inflation and admitted that they have no other option but to increase ticket prices to survive. However, Malayali passengers in Gulf countries said that it was common for airlines to double or triple ticket prices during every Onam, with impunity.

A family of four will have to spend about two lakh rupees to travel from Kochi to Dubai during the Onam season. Air India, IndiGo, Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways have all increased ticket prices. It is said that a trip to the Gulf for one person could cost one lakh rupees. Ticket prices are expected to remain the same till the first week of September. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the policy of airlines increasing ticket prices during festivals and holidays. The Supreme Court also warned of strict action, including suspending the services of airlines that do not comply with the central government's regulations.

The court was considering a petition filed by social activist S. Lakshminarayanan, seeking that airlines ensure passenger safety and transparency in flight ticket prices. The main demand in the petition was to intervene in the actions of airlines that increase fares during festive seasons. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta considered the petition. The court directed the Additional Solicitor General, who appeared for the Centre, to disrupt operations of flights not complying with the central government's instructions.

Meanwhile, the Centre submitted a draft of the rules in a sealed cover to the court, stating that the process of formulating new rules to regulate air fares and ensure passenger safety is in the final stages.

On August 4, an Airbus aircraft flying from Phuket to Delhi plummeted 300 feet, injuring 24 passengers. Subsequent investigations revealed that the pilot of the Air India flight was under the influence of drugs. Subsequently, Air India and Air India Express conducted drug tests on about 400 pilots. The results of the tests showed that two of them were under the influence of drugs. In any case, immediate steps should be taken to ensure the safety of passengers and set a maximum limit for ticket prices. The recent happenings in the aviation sector are not something to cheer about. It is expected that the ministry will intervene to make amends and repair the dented image of the sector.