Kerala govt to press Centre to regulate high airfares for Haj pilgrims, expats

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday reaffirmed the state government's commitment to pressuring the Centre to regulate the steep airfares imposed on Haj pilgrims and expatriates traveling to and from the state.

Speaking in the Assembly, Vijayan highlighted the significant financial burden faced by Haj pilgrims and expatriate Keralites, particularly during festival seasons and vacations, due to exorbitant ticket prices charged by airlines. He emphasized that the state had already taken steps to address the issue by sending a formal request to the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, seeking the Centre’s intervention.

The Chief Minister noted that the concern was also raised during the recent pre-monsoon session meeting of Members of Parliament. However, he pointed out that the Union government has maintained that airfares are determined solely by airlines and that it does not intervene in their commercial and marketing decisions.

Vijayan criticized the Centre’s stance, recalling that the removal of airfare regulations in 1994 had granted airline companies complete autonomy in setting ticket prices. He underscored the need for regulatory measures to prevent airlines from imposing excessive charges, especially on essential travel routes.

With PTI inputs