Policy decision required: No central approval for K-Flight 

• Charter services cannot be operated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre has not accepted the state's demand for low-cost charter flights (K-Flight) from the Gulf from the second week of this month to bring the airlines that charge extremely high airfares under control. The central position is that a policy decision is required to allow charter flights and additional services and no such decisions have been taken at present. The setback happened when the government was preparing to charter 175-seater aircraft once it got permission from the aviation ministry

Foreign countries have pre-fixed quotas for service to India. The central position is that if charter and additional services are run by the state, it will affect the quota allotted to the country, which may affect regular services. If a service to the UAE has to be operated, clearance from the UAE government is needed. The operation of air services is a bilateral agreement and contract between countries and a State cannot enter into an agreement with any foreign country. The permission of the foreign country should also be applied for through the Centre.

Norca was in talks with Indian and foreign airlines for charter services earlier. It has also been decided to reduce landing fees, parking fees and user fees at government-controlled Kannur and Kochi airports for reducing airfare. A corpus fund of 15 crores had also been allocated in the budget for this project.

Busy and expensive

• With the mid-summer vacation in Kerala, flights will be full as expatriates bring their families to the Gulf on visiting visas.
• Domestic flights are also crowded for Vishu and Ramadan celebrations, during which airlines increase ticket prices.
• Airlines are not responding favorably to the state government's demand to reduce fares.
• Fares are lower from Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad airports to the Gulf. There are many Malayalees who go the long way around.

'Nothing can be done about high ticket prices. Being a seasonal industry, rates rise during festivals and fall during the year. The Centre cannot interfere.'

Jyotiraditya Scindia,

Aviation Minister

(what he said in Parliament)