New Delhi: Airlines might not be "angels but definitely they are not demons", Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju today said amid concerns over arbitrary hike in airfares and emphasised that carriers have been responsive during crises.
Making it clear that there would not be a "simplistic solution" to deal with exorbitant rise in airfares, he reiterated that capping would not be the answer as that would also push the floor prices.
To stress his stance against capping, the minister cited an analysis done last year which showed that only around 1.7 per cent of the tickets sold were in the higher fare bucket.
"Caps and floors are very interesting... but we should not land up in a situation that pushes up the price of over 90 per cent of passengers to benefit around 1.7 per cent of the passengers," Mr Raju said in response to a query on whether the government would look at capping airfares.
Stressing that the overall objective is to ensure reasonable pricing of air tickets, the minister said airlines have been responsible in keeping fares reasonable during Chennai and Srinagar floods.
"They (airlines) might not be angels but they definitely are not demons... We need to work with them and find a solution (for higher airfares). These are problems which do not lend itself to a simplistic solution," Mr Raju said.
Earlier this month, he had ruled out the possibility of capping airfares in the backdrop of passenger complaints of arbitrary tariff hikes, saying competition among the airlines will take care of the problem.
Making it clear that there would not be a "simplistic solution" to deal with exorbitant rise in airfares, he reiterated that capping would not be the answer as that would also push the floor prices.
To stress his stance against capping, the minister cited an analysis done last year which showed that only around 1.7 per cent of the tickets sold were in the higher fare bucket.
Stressing that the overall objective is to ensure reasonable pricing of air tickets, the minister said airlines have been responsible in keeping fares reasonable during Chennai and Srinagar floods.
Advertisement
Earlier this month, he had ruled out the possibility of capping airfares in the backdrop of passenger complaints of arbitrary tariff hikes, saying competition among the airlines will take care of the problem.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Alaska Airlines Flight Diverted After Pilot's Shocking Confession: ''Not Certified To Land" Probe Reveals Brazil Plane Crashed One Minute After Pilots Sensed Trouble "Checks Will Be Heightened": IndiGo's Advisory Ahead Of Independence Day CBI Team At Kolkata Hospital For Digital Mapping Of Crime Scene Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Ram Charan And Upasana Level Up The Twinning Game In Chic All-Black Looks Video: Man Skis Off 18,753-Foot Himalayan Cliff, Shatters World Record Court Reserves Order On Summoning Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi In Land For Job Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.