Newly appointed Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday acknowledged the trend of rising flight ticket prices. Speaking to reporters, he shared his personal experience as a passenger and assured that the government was committed to addressing the issue. Reiterating confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Hawai Chappal Se Hawai Jahaz Tak' statement, Naidu said that his focus would be to make airways accessible to the common man.
Naidu, who took charge of the Ministry of Civil Aviation on June 13, stated that his primary focus would be on making air travel more accessible and comfortable for the common man.
The rise in airfares has been a growing concern for travellers across India. Over the past few months, ticket prices have seen sharp increases, impacting the ease of flying for both domestic and international routes. Additionally, the aviation sector has been grappling with global supply chain disruptions, which have delayed plane deliveries and pushed fares higher. As per reports, domestic air traffic grew by 23 per cent in 2023, reaching a record 153 million passengers, with analysts forecasting this number to climb to 300 million by 2030.
With air travel becoming more accessible to a wider audience, Naidu focused the need to ensure comfort, convenience, and safety. "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 goals, Naidu announced plans to create a 100-day action plan, which will eventually lead to a long-term vision for the sector aligned with the "Vikashit Bharat" plan, making 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 said.
Key initiatives would include advancing the Udaan Scheme by connecting more tier 2 and 3 cities, promoting the Digi Yatra facility nationwide, and converting all airports into 100 per cent environmentally friendly facilities. "We want to make airfare affordable, want to make airways the new Railways of India. The common man is a little bit worried about the high-ticket prices. We still want to bring more people into air travel," he concluded.