KCCI expresses dismay over authorities’ failure to regulate Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi air fares

Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has  expressed its deep dismay at the ongoing failure of authorities to regulate airfares on the Srinagar/Jammu/Delhi routes. This issue not only poses a significant concern for the economy and tourism of Kashmir, but also places an undue burden on the local populace, who are forced to pay exorbitant prices for air travel compared to other regions, KCCI said in a statement to Ziraat Times.

The KCCI laments that despite  concerted government efforts to promote Kashmir as a premier tourist destination, current airfares render the region a costlier option for intending travellers, it said.

Recent analyses reveal that airfares to Kashmir can exceed the cost of flights from Delhi to Dubai, raising serious concerns about the impact on tourism, healthcare access for patients needing treatment outside J&K, and the ability of businesspersons and common citizens to return home from various parts of the country. The exorbitant airfare remains un-explained  in view of the present low tourist footfall, KCCI further said.

The KCCI emphasizes that these exorbitant fares are detrimental to the business community and the general public, travellers, students, sick , aged, and sportspersons.

This is not the first time the KCCI, as the apex body representing the business community, has raised this pressing issue. Despite previous communications, including a formal presentation to the Parliamentary Committee last year, the situation remains unresolved. Authorities often cite demand and supply dynamics as justification for high fares; however, KCCI argues that if demand for travel to Kashmir is indeed high, airlines should respond by increasing the number of available flights rather than hiking prices.

The KCCI has previously highlighted these concerns regarding unwarranted fare hikes, which have been acknowledged by the Department-related Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, Government of India.

Unfortunately, it appears that airline operators on the Delhi/Jammu/Srinagar route have disregarded the clear recommendations made by the committee, leading to irrational fare increases that amount to undue profiteering and hinder tourist movement.

The KCCI urges the Hon’ble Minister for Civil Aviation and the Director General of Civil Aviation, Government of India, to implement the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee without delay. The committee has recommended establishing a mechanism to cap upper and lower airfare limits to prevent ‘predatory pricing’ and sudden fare surges. Moreover, it calls for close monitoring of airline websites to ensure accurate fare representation and penalization for misinformation.

The KCCI reiterates the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s responsibility to the travelling public and the nation at large, emphasizing the need for a fair pricing mechanism to prevent exorbitant charges.

Additionally, the Chamber calls on airlines operating on the Delhi/Jammu/Srinagar route to increase flight availability to accommodate the growing demand for travel to Srinagar.