Taking cognizance of skyrocketing airfares to Kashmir, civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought details from airlines on their pricing policies, especially about fares being charged by them on the Jammu and Kashmir sector.
The DGCA move comes in the backdrop of concerns expressed by the J&K government before it over unregulated airfares to the Valley, particularly during the peak tourism season or whenever the Srinagar-Jammu highway remains cut off due to inclement weather.
“The DGCA has sought details of ticket prices from the airlines, especially those sold in highest fare bucket for air travel to Jammu and Kashmir,” said a DGCA official.
He said: “There was a constant pursuance from the J&K government before DGCA to take on airlines that charge arbitrarily during peak tourism seasons in Kashmir,” he said. “The DGCA will now analyze ticket prices and come up with directions to the airlines, if needed.”
The official said the DGCA has also asked the airlines to submit specific information about number of seats and relevant fares on 20 identified routes, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Interestingly, the DGCA move has come at a time when tourism influx to Kashmir is picking up and when airlines have started additional flights to the Valley.
President of Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Muhammad Ibrahim Siah said it is imperative for DGCA to act against airlines over arbitrary fare hikes.
“Our destination has become costlier than foreign countries. This has a negative impact on our tourism,” he said. “There should be an upper ceilings on airfares.”
Chairman, PLTOF, Nasir Shah said the DGCA should fix upper limit for airfares on Jammu and Kashmir sector so that the intending visitors “don’t have to shell out huge amount on air tickets.”
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju last week told the Lok Sabha that the ministry would hold consultations with the airlines to explore the possibility of curbing charging of exorbitant airfares during emergency situations.
His assurance came amid Lok Sabha members voicing concern over exorbitant airfares during emergency situations like unprecedented floods in Chennai and Srinagar and the recent Jat agitation.
