Newly appointed Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, expressed his commitment to tackling the issue of rising airfares, drawing on his own experiences as a frequent flyer facing the surge in ticket prices.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Naidu acknowledged the ongoing trend of increasing flight ticket prices. Sharing his personal perspective as a passenger, he emphasized the government's dedication to addressing this concern.
Having assumed his role as the Minister of Civil Aviation on June 13, Naidu highlighted that his primary goal is to make air travel more accessible and comfortable for the general public.
"Since the Covid days, there has been significant fluctuation in airfare prices. As a passenger myself, I have observed these hikes. We are going to review this," Naidu stated in an exclusive interview with India Today TV.
The surge in airfares has been a growing concern for travelers across India. In recent months, ticket prices have seen sharp increases, affecting the ease of flying for both domestic and international routes.
Additionally, the country's aviation sector has been grappling with global supply chain disruptions, which have delayed plane deliveries and contributed to higher fares. Domestic air traffic grew by 23 percent in 2023, reaching a record 153 million passengers, with analysts predicting this number to rise to 300 million by 2030.
With air travel becoming more accessible to a broader audience, Naidu stressed the importance of ensuring comfort, convenience, and safety for passengers.
“Our agenda is clear: we will make air travel more easily accessible,” stated the Union Minister. “Passengers will be at the core of our work."
To achieve these objectives, Naidu plans to implement a 100-day action plan, which will serve as a foundation for a long-term vision for the sector, aligned with the "Vikashit Bharat" plan, marking 100 years of India's independence.
"We are developing a 100-day plan to address immediate challenges, and from there, we will transition to a long-term vision—the ‘Vikashit Bharat’ plan for the next 100 years of independence," he explained, outlining his strategy.
Key initiatives will include expanding the Udaan Scheme by connecting more tier 2 and 3 cities, promoting the Digi Yatra facility nationwide, and converting all airports into 100 percent environmentally friendly facilities.
"We want to make airfare affordable and turn airways into the new Railways of India. The common man is concerned about high ticket prices. We still want to bring more people into air travel," he concluded.
