Capping airfare year-round not practical, minister tells House

AVIATION Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Friday told the Lok Sabha that capping airfares year-round is neither practical nor in the long-term interests of the civil aviation sector, emphasising that a deregulated market ultimately keeps fares competitive and benefits passengers.

- PREETHA NAIR @New Delhi

Responding to a private member’s bill seeking fare regulation against the backdrop of the IndiGo crisis, Naidu reiterated that keeping the sector deregulated remains essential for growth. However, he said that this does not give airlines a free hand. “Even in a deregulated market, the Aircraft Act gives the Centre the authority to intervene in extraordinary situations to prevent misuse, including capping fares,” he said, noting that the government recently introduced a fare slab to curb “opportunistic pricing” after widespread f