The Civil Aviation ministry hopes that the meeting will help convince the carriers to put an end to the practice of predatory pricing by evolving a consensus on the issue.
Domestic air carriers have been called for a meeting on September 15 by the government to discuss the issue of high airfares, especially during festival seasons and emergency travel, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed serious concern over the issue.
"We have called a meeting of domestic airlines to address the issue of high fares, especially during festive season," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said today.
The ministry hopes that the meeting will help convince the carriers to put an end to the practice of predatory pricing by evolving a consensus on the issue, and has ruled out regulating the fares as it goes against the principle of market economy.
Mr Sharma said, "However, something is needed to stop the practice of charging high fares during festive seasons and emergency travel like medical emergency... We are hopeful that the airlines would respond in a positive manner to our request or suggestion in this regard."
The ministry is also exploring the option of setting up a mechanism through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation or national carrier Air India to deal with the issue.
Earlier, PM Modi had expressed concern over the steep rise in airfares, especially during festive seasons, when more people travel. During his recent visit to the UAE, the Prime Minister had received a representation that airfares are high during the Onam festival that is celebrated in Kerala.
During festivals like Onam, many Keralites, who are working in the Middle East, come back home with their families, have to shell out high prices of air tickets for a last minute travel.