Hussain promises to consider demand to slash air fares

DUBAI: Civil Aviation Minister Shanawaz Hussain has said that the government will seriously consider the longstanding demand by NRIs for slashing the high fares of national carriers on the Gulf-India route during the peak season.

"This is the first time this issue had been brought to my notice. We had decided to look at the issue after the Parliament session is over taking the views of the national carriers as well," Hussain, who is leading an 18-member high-level delegation to the Gulf as part of efforts to attract tourists to India, said.

Indian airliners hike their fares on the Gulf-India route during peak summer. The NRIs have been long demanding that they be slashed for the benefit of low income expatriates.

Hussain, however, pointed out that the state tax on air turbine fuel (ATF) added to the cost of the ticket.

"Some states like Kerala charges 39 per cent tax while Andhra Pradesh had brought it down to only four per cent, considerably reducing the cost of the ticket to destinations in that state", he said.

According to travel sources, unusually high air fares damper efforts to promote tourism in the region.