RS members demand cap on rising airfares

Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday demanded a curb on the rising airfares and insisted to know why charges were imposed by airlines on booking preferential seats in a flight.

"Airfare charges have increased manifold. I suggested to the ministry to put a cap on it. Ordinary people who are in distress or urgencies are not able to take a flight because of exorbitant fares," Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Tiruchi Siva told ANI.

"If you want a seat in the front row or behind the window, you have to pay more. That shows discrimination as all the seats are in economic class. First come, first serve service should be maintained," he added.

Siva's statement came after the issue was reportedly raised by a Congress leader during Question Hour in Lok Sabha earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu asked the government to probe the matter.