Govt has powers to cap airfares but it is not single-way solution: Aviation Minister Naidu
New Delhi (PTI): The government has exclusive powers in extraordinary circumstances to cap airfares but it is not a single-way solution, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Friday amid rising concerns over high air ticket prices.
Replying to a debate on a private member's resolution on 'Resolutions: Appropriate Measures to Regulate Airfare in the Country' in the Lok Sabha, the minister also mentioned about non-availability of aircraft and that discussions are on to make planes in India.
The resolution, which was later withdrawn, was moved by Congress member Shafi Parambil.
There are multiple levels in the aviation ecosystem and various aspects, including the viability of airlines, he noted.
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Earlier this month, the civil aviation ministry imposed a distance-based cap on domestic airfares in the wake of the IndiGo flight disruptions.
Domestic air ticket pricing remains "on par with other nations" and it would not be feasible for the government to cap airfares across the nation, Naidu said.
According to the minister, a deregulated market ultimately benefits consumers and that ticket prices typically rise during festive seasons.
He also emphasised that deregulation remains central to the growth of civil aviation.
"If we want the civil aviation sector to grow, the first and foremost requirement is to keep it deregulated so that more players can enter the market."
However, the minister also said that deregulation does not give the airlines a free hand and the government retains powers to intervene when needed.
Naidu said that state-owned Alliance Air has started a three-month pilot scheme of fixed airfares and after looking into how much it has benefited passengers as well as the feedback, the ministry might also consider a similar plan for private airlines.
Stressing that capping airfares is not a "single-way solution", the minister said that in comparison internationally, the rate of growth in airfares in India has been negative, in relative and real terms.
"There has been a 43 per cent decrease in airfares when you consider the Consumer Price Index (CPI), inflation...," he said and added that airfares are affordable.
However, Naidu did not mention about the time frame for the comparison.
"The government has exclusive powers in extraordinary circumstances when they feel that when airfares are rising above the normal and becoming abnormal, we are taking it up...," Naidu said.
Listing out the bottlenecks, the minister said the main issue is about the availability of aircraft.
Indian carriers have more than 1,700 aircraft on order but global supply chain problems have been delaying the deliveries.
In this context, Naidu mentioned about the efforts to make planes in India.
"This government has taken a stance that we are not going to wait for these aircraft to be built... We are going to create a programme where aircraft can be built in the country. We should have a Made in India aircraft.
"There is Russian Sukhoi SJ-100 which is a regional aircraft. We are talking with them. HAL is engaging with them. They have (signed) MoU (memorandum of understanding). They are going to get technology here so that we can build the plane here," the minister said.
According to Naidu, talks are also happening with Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer.
"We are telling them to come to India and manufacture here," he said.
Participating in the debate, Congress member Varsha Gaikwad claimed air travel is not for comfort of common man today but a way to harass and loot them.
"There is loot in airfares... A ticket that earlier used to cost around Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 now costs Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. There are several hidden charges which are imposed on air tickets booking. Several airlines have closed down or merged, which have led to a monopoly of airlines and the repercussions of which are faced by the public, an example of which we all saw last week," she said.
Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar said when some companies have control of operations, they decide the fares as per their own will which leads not just to competition but fear of overpricing.
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India, Jamaica agree to boost trade, skilled mobility: Jaishankar
Kingston (PTI): India and Jamaica agreed to further strengthen trade linkages and explore cooperation for recruitment and mobility of skilled professionals, including healthcare workers and teachers, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.
Addressing a joint press conference here after talks with his Jamaican counterpart Kamina J Smith on Monday, Jaishankar said the discussions were comprehensive, and they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties, identifying new avenues to deepen the partnership.
"We signed several important agreements and discussed effective implementations of MOUs which have been recently concluded in the fields of digital transformation, cultural exchange, sports and digital payments to ensure tangible outcomes on the ground," he said.
India recognised Jamaica's growing role as a logistics hub and gateway to the Caribbean for trade and investment, Jaishankar said.
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"We agreed to further strengthen trade, business and investment linkages, explore cooperation for recruitment and mobility of skilled professionals, including nurses, healthcare workers and teachers," he said.
The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in defence and security, healthcare, digitisation, agriculture, education and infrastructure, the minister said.
Highlighting development cooperation as a key pillar of ties, Jaishankar noted the successful completion of the Improving Rural Livelihoods Project in Kitson Town in March 2026, implemented with Indian assistance of USD 1 million under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, benefiting over 200 individuals and impacting thousands more.
He said India is also discussing the feasibility of establishing an artisan empowerment hub in Jamaica and reiterated support for the country's recovery following Hurricane Melissa.
As part of humanitarian assistance, India has supplied relief material, deployed a medical team and is in the process of providing 30 dialysis units. It is also sending 40 fishing boats and 200 GPS units to aid recovery efforts.
The ministers reaffirmed close cooperation in multilateral fora and discussed issues such as reformed multilateralism, climate justice and priorities of the Global South.
India appreciated Jamaica’s support for its candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2028-29.
Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
Jaishankar also highlighted growing people-to-people ties, noting the popularity of yoga and Ayurveda in Jamaica and the contribution of the Indian diaspora to the country’s development.
He announced a contribution of two million Jamaican dollars towards celebrations marking 181 years of the arrival of Indians in Jamaica on India Heritage Day.
According to the website of the High Commission of India in Kingston, Jamaica has an Indian diaspora of around 70,000 people whose forefathers came mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as indentured labour between 1845 and 1917. Some also came from South India.
The diaspora constitutes around 3 per cent of Jamaica's population and continues to nurture an abiding interest in Indian culture, music, dance and history, serving as a cultural bridge between the two countries. May 10 is observed as India Heritage Day in Jamaica.
Later in the day, Jaishankar interacted with Jamaica’s industry and business leaders, underlining the need to deepen economic engagement as countries diversify partnerships globally.
“Emphasised that as we all diversify and seek reliable partners, the imperative to deepen India-Jamaica business ties is that much stronger,” he said in a social media post, noting that the potential for bilateral and regional economic cooperation should be "explored more vigorously".
He also appreciated Industry Minister Aubyn Hill for convening the interaction with business leaders.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
