(a) whether some airlines have been charging excessive rates for economy class travelling on domestic routes;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to regulate the economy class airfare for domestic routes; and
(d) if so, the details and the present status thereof along with the other steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Dr Mahesh Sharma)
(a) Air fares are not controlled by the Government. Airline are free to fix the reasonable tariff under the provision of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 135, Aircraft Rules 1937 having regard to all relevant factors, including the cost of operation, characteristics of service, reasonable profit and the generally prevailing tariff. A Tariff Monitoring Unit has however been set up in Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to monitor airfares on certain routes selected on random basis to ensure that the airlines do not charge airfares outside the range declared by them. The analysis on random basis has shown that the airfares remained well within the fare bucket uploaded by the airlines on the respective websites.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) No, Madam.
(d) Does not arise.