The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has pledged to implement a framework to rein in steep airfares following recent spikes observed during the Maha Kumbh festival and after the Pahalgam terror incident, according to officials at a Public Accounts Committee hearing on 8 July. The meeting also spotlighted pressing safety concerns in the wake of the tragic Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad.
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, chairing the panel, demanded a comprehensive audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, citing a series of recent operational safety lapses and pressed for clarity on the Air India crash investigation status. During the session, DGCA officials revealed plans to propose firm guidelines to curb “arbitrary” fare hikes, startling passengers who saw sudden fare surges—from Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh to Srinagar post-Pahalgam attack—with no clear regulatory recourse. A BJP MP questioned whether a mere airline consensus would suffice, emphasising DGCA’s regulatory mandate.
Safety was another focal point. Following the June 12 Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner disaster near Ahmedabad, MPs confined their inquiries to systemic safety issues instead of crash specifics. Venugopal underscored that passengers’ foremost expectation is safety, a view echoed by NCP’s Praful Patel. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson assured MPs that passenger complaints—ranging from broken seats to comfort issues—were being addressed through a full fleet retrofitting, expected within two years.
Members also pressed for an audit of current fleet safety standards, querying the timeline for black-box investigation outcomes. Some MPs contended that passenger fees have risen, yet convenience and safety have declined, necessitating strict regulatory enforcement. Patel urged the DGCA to recruit retired aviation experts at senior levels to strengthen technical oversight. He argued that invoking existing legal provisions would stabilise fares and restore passenger confidence.
Attendees included officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, DGCA, AERA, AAI, AAICLAS, BCAS, and senior leadership from Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and airport operator Adani Airports.
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