Kerala asks Centre to regulate air fares in Gulf sector

The Kerala government today requested the Centre to regulate private airline companies which charge a huge amount as ticket fare from passengers in the Gulf-Kerala sector, especially during the holiday season.
State Minister for NORKA (Non Resident Kerala Affairs) K C Joseph said it has come to the government's notice that airlines were charging four to five times more than existing rates, causing hardships to people coming home to celebrate Ramadan festival.
"As the vacation begins,there has been an uneven increase in the number of Keralites coming from the Gulf region. The immense increase in the ticket rates during this period is a cruelty," he said in a recent letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

He also requested the Centre to take immediate steps to persuade international airlines to roll back the increase in fares and operate more flights in the region.