New Delhi: Domestic aviation companies on Tuesday sought a week’s time from the government to come up with their proposals to address the issue of “high fares”, especially during festival times, through individual “internal exercises” after failing to reach a consensus on the issue.
More time was sought at a meeting in the capital even as minister of state for civil aviation Mahesh Sharma indicated that the government is “determined” to cap fares in case there is no end to excessive fares, but pointed out that the government was in favour of a consensus on the matter.
At a meeting called by the civil aviation ministry on Tuesday evening, the airlines informed that they would conduct an internal exercise individually before coming out with their suggestions and proposals on the issue. The government also wants the benefits of slashing of aviation fuel prices to be passed on to passengers by the airlines.
“We had a lively discussion on pros and cons, (on air fares) with them. And they informed us that they (each airline) will do an internal exercise. Proba-bly, in a week or 10 days we will meet them again and take their suggestions,” civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said after the meeting.
