Aviation secy warns carriers against charging extra fares

Aviation Secretary M M Nambiar today called a meeting of airlines’ representatives to warn them against charging excessive fares, He also asked them to operate more flights on the routes that were serviced by Jet Airways. “This is for reducing the inconvenience to passengers,” Nambiar said.

However, airlines said they were already carrying Jet passengers without any extra charge . They pointed out that fares work on the basis of a bucket system, wherein different ‘buckets’ of seats are charged differently.

Earlier, with planes flying with empty seats, customers could choose from the various fare levels. Now, due to the increased demand caused by the Jet pilots’ strike, even the more expensive seats are being purchased.

“In terms of operating special aircraft, we do not have small planes but we are already accommodating Jet passengers at no extra cost. And the change in our fare is only of around 5 per cent, which is normal,” an executive of a low-cost carrier said.

Kingfisher Airlines has written a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) saying that no excessive fare is being charged by them.

“We have not altered any fare structure and we continue to maintain status quo,” a Kingfisher airline spokesperson said.

He did not comment on any plans for operating extra flights on Jet’s route, but the airline is ferrying Jet passengers on vacant seats in its existing flights.

On Thursday, the DGCA had asked the airlines not to charge fares which were more than what was being charged in the week ending September 6, 2009.