With airfares spiralling, members of a Parliamentary panel grilled top officials of the civil aviation ministry and demanded quick action to curb overpricing of airtickets.
Members of the Committee on Estimates, which met earlier this week, expressed its concern over the phenomenal rise in airfares in the recent past and wondered whether anybody had control over selling airtickets.
A section of the members sought to hold the open-market economy responsible for the present situation and favoured setting up of a body to ensure that the airfares did not shoot up suddenly in the future.
“Somebody has to be responsible for controlling airfares. The situation should not be allowed to go out of hand like in the recent past,” said a member of the Committee, headed by Francisco Sardinha.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has asked its investigation wing to inquire into the possible cartel-like behaviour in airfare increase.
The Commission has also asked the civil aviation ministry to share with it the information on the fare increase by airlines.
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The suo motu action by CCI follows media reports and the statements by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on steep rise in fares announced by airlines in non-peak season last month.
Some members were concerned over the delays in flights due to various reasons and wanted the airliners, at least Air India, to strictly follow schedules.
Members were also worried over the financial health of Air India and referred to reports in a section of the media that the carrier would be unable to even pay salaries to their employees after March 2011.