65 percent travelers want government to reintroduce capping on airfares: survey

New Delhi: The cancellation of all GoFirst flights in early May left airline passengers in a lurch. People told Local Circle that now they have to pay more air fare than before. Passengers said that one-way fare from Delhi-Leh is Rs 35,000, for Delhi-Ahmedabad and Delhi-Nagpur flights more than Rs 20,000. In fact, the government decided to remove the lower and upper limit of air fares on August 31, 2022, and airline companies got the right to decide the fares themselves. Air fares have seen an increase despite the reduction in fuel prices and increase in the number of passengers. Since September last year, more than 100 complaints have been received regarding airfares on local circles. After the GoFirst case, some people talked about increasing the fares, alleging profiteering. Thereafter, the local circles conducted a survey to better understand the situation. More than 32,000 people participated in it. Of these, 65 per cent air passengers said that the government should re-implement the capping system to control fare prices.

Given the current air fares, should the government withdraw the decision on capping?

Yes: 65%

No: 21%

Don’t know: 14%

85% air travelers want ‘bereavement fare’ to be implemented in airlines

Airlines companies like Alaska, Air Canada, Delta provide this facility. In this, due to the death of a family member, one has to travel at the last moment. Those who take advantage of this facility are allowed to travel at a reasonable fare by showing the necessary documents.

Should such a feature be implemented in India?

Yes: 85%

No: 8%

Don’t know: 7%

How often in the last 12 months did you feel that low cost airlines were overcharging?

Frequency: 50%

Sometimes: 22%

Occasionally: 7%

Never felt like it: 7%

Don’t know: 14%