Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu addressed concerns over repeated flight delays and cancellations during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, emphasizing that passenger welfare remains the ministry’s top priority.
Addressing Delays and Cancellations
During the session, MPs Amra Ram and KC Venugopal raised issues related to frequent flight delays and cancellations, particularly affecting Air India Express flights in Kerala. Responding to these concerns, Naidu provided specific data, stating, “Between April and June of this year, particularly concerning Kerala, there were 14 cancellations in April, 132 in May, and 18 in June, totalling 164 cancellations.”
MP Venugopal highlighted the plight of Indians living in the Middle East, who suffer from frequent delays and cancellations. He noted, “Cancellations are sometimes made without informing passengers, who are also not being reimbursed,” questioning the government’s monitoring efforts and solutions to these problems. He also pointed out the issue of high airfares to Gulf countries.
Challenges and Solutions
Naidu acknowledged the issues with Air India Express, particularly during its merger with AirAsia, which led to internal challenges and a mass strike in May. He explained, “The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) facilitated discussions between crew members and the airline to resolve these issues. A software glitch during this period also compounded the problems, delaying the resolution.”
Assuring that the situation had since stabilized, Naidu reiterated the ministry’s commitment to preventing further cancellations and delays. He stated, “There are regulations and guidelines in place. If any delays or cancellations happen and the airline does not follow these regulations, the ministry gets involved to ensure customers receive refunds, accommodation, and rebooking on other flights.”
Naidu also mentioned that Air India was fined ₹10 lakh for not adhering to these guidelines and assured that the ministry is investigating the strike at Air India Express, promising penalties for any non-compliance.
Addressing High Airfares
MP Shafi Parambil raised concerns about the high cost of flight tickets to Gulf countries, sometimes reaching ₹85,000, making it difficult for families to afford travel. He highlighted the emotional toll on NRIs who struggle to attend important family events due to these high prices.
In response, Naidu explained, “It is the market-driven approach that airlines use for deciding airfares. Since I took charge as the minister, I committed to making airfares affordable.” He added that the situation is complicated due to ongoing court cases and mentioned that 120 planes are currently grounded due to engine issues, which burdens the existing fleet and drives up prices.
Naidu also shared that India has 1,200 aircraft orders, the highest in the world, which he termed a “happy” situation for the country. He assured that any manipulation by airlines would be addressed, stating, “The customer is the king, and that is our priority in the ministry.”
Responding to a question about forming a high-level committee to look into airfare prices, Naidu confirmed that the ministry would “definitely look into it,” reiterating the government’s commitment to addressing these pressing issues for the benefit of passengers.