The authorities need to investigate the sharp hike in air fares (‘Airlines more than double low-end fares’, February 11) immediately. If so many airlines are to increase their rates simultaneously, it seems pretty obvious that there is a high level of collusion or cartelisation that is at play. In most countries, airlines would be taken to task for such behaviour. What is even more unfortunate is that airlines should be behaving in this manner just a few weeks after they got big concessions from the government on the grounds they were bleeding — this included telling the state-owned oil companies to continue to sell aviation fuel to them despite non-payment of dues. But instead of passing on this to travellers, airlines have gone and raised fares. I wonder what the aviation ministry has to say about this now?
What will make things worse is the sharp hike in passenger cesses being levied at various airports like Delhi and Mumbai — Hyderabad and Bangalore have already done this earlier. All this will make sure passengers choose to travel by train instead of by air. It is certain to help the railways!
Suresh Gupta, Mumbai
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