New Delhi: During a meeting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, MPs voiced strong concerns over the rising airfares and the perceived lack of action from government agencies and regulators. Several members called for accountability from private airport operators and airlines to alleviate the burden on passengers.
PAC Chairperson K.C. Venugopal described the session as “one of the best” meetings the committee has had, despite previous contentious discussions along party lines. He noted that members expressed frustration with the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), accusing it of failing to act effectively as a regulator. Venugopal pointed out that the regulatory body struggled to provide satisfactory answers to the questions raised by the committee.
The Congress MP stated, “Concerns were raised about skyrocketing airfares, yet there has been no action from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or the Civil Aviation Department.”
Sources revealed that some MPs suggested amending the AERA Act to enhance its effectiveness in regulating airfares, citing widespread dissatisfaction over issues such as the “arbitrary” increase in user development fees and fare hikes.
The Civil Aviation Secretary and AERA Chairperson were among those who appeared before the panel.
