The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Air passengers seek end to "cartelisation"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 21, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Air passengers seek end to "cartelisation"

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Air Passengers' Association of India (APAI) has sought the intervention of Union Consumer Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministries to stop the alleged cartelisation by airline operators even as it welcomed the formation of the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA).

APAI president D. Sudhakara Reddy told a press conference here on Friday that they looked forward to a positive interaction with the FIA in all areas of passenger welfare.

But, the association was concerned about the formation of a cartel with the intention of rigging airfares and increasing surcharge on aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

"Our fears of cartelisation started... when a uniform rate was charged as fuel surcharge by all airline operators as a fixed charge, irrespective of the distance covered.

Though the ATF price has reduced, there is no relief for air passengers who continue to be charged Rs.750 as fuel surcharge.

"Within six months, all operators have hiked the fuel surcharge from Rs. 300 to Rs. 750. But, international airlines such as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have reduced it," he said.

The APAI was planning to seek legal remedy to stop this, he added.

APAI executive director R. Vijay Bobby said the association had written to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to accede to the Montreal Convention and amend the Carriage by Air Act 1972.

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