Plunder by airport food counters

Those who once bought tea from cafes and restaurants at airports without knowing the price will never repeat it. A cup of tea at Karipur airport costs Rs. 300. The price is Rs. 215 at Kochi. The prices are similar at Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur airports as well. Gone are the days when only the wealthy used to travel by plane. Most of the common people also now travel by air for various purposes. The prices charged for food at airports are prices that they can never afford or comprehend. Moreover, there are no boards displaying the prices of food items anywhere. Therefore, the number of people who go to such cafes to have coffee and are shocked by the bill is increasing, not decreasing.

Action was taken by the DGCA and the Central Civil Aviation Department to fix the high airfare when a crisis arose due to the disruption of IndiGo's services. Such a decision would never have happened without such a crisis. This is because those responsible for it never think from the passengers' side. The airport authority should fix the maximum price that can be charged for tea, coffee and other food items while issuing tenders for cafes and restaurants itself. When a government-run place charges a price that is not charged even in five-star hotels that cost crores, those who have lost money by drinking tea without knowing the price cannot help but feel a suspicion, at least in their hearts, whether it is the capitalists or the government that are the big, unscrupulous robbers.

Once inside the airport, passengers will not be able to go out and eat. Those coming with children will be forced to eat at cafes and restaurants inside the airport. As flight delays and cancellations have become almost a regular occurrence, passengers who enter the airport with boarding passes will have to spend hours there. Thousands of passengers were stranded at airports for hours after IndiGo flights were widely cancelled recenlty. Although it is the responsibility of airlines to arrange food and accommodation for passengers when a flight is delayed or cancelled without warning, most companies do not comply with this.

The minimum price at the airport restaurant for a set of three idlis, tea and mineral water is Rs 590. The minimum price for juice is Rs 250. Cafe shop operators say that the high tender amount is the reason for the high price of food items. The tender is issued for a period of seven years or more. The Airport Authority should take steps to reduce the license fee and fix the maximum price of food items. It is not right to turn a blind eye to any inconvenience caused by the shopkeepers once the tender has been awarded. Extortionate ticket and food prices cannot be justified under any circumstances.