Airlines advised to keep air fares in check for Kerala flights

The Central government has asked domestic airlines to keep a check on air fares for flights operating to and from Kerala.

The advisory comes as the state suffers from one of the worst bouts of floods in the recent past.

"We have advised airlines to be more sensitive to situation arising out of #KeralaFlooding & keep airfares in check. It's a humanitarian cause. Thanks to all for agreeing with my suggestions to carry free of charge the #KeralaFloodRelief related material. All efforts ongoing for relief," Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu tweeted.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airfare on 18 domestic routes are being monitored.

"Spike in airfare on few routes have been observed. Concerned airlines have been advised to cap the airfare on these flights," the Ministry said in a statement on late Thursday.

Echoing the general mood, Minister of Statistics & Programme Implementation D.V. Sadananda Gowda tweeted: "Private Airlines are at a money making Shame!! Today Mangalore to Bengaluru ticket rate sky-rocketed to Rs 18,000. This route's average rate is never more than Rs 4,000. It's time to introduce more flights @jayantsinha."

The monsoon fury has hit different parts of Western Ghats including districts of Kerala and adjoining areas in Karnataka.

The grim situation has left the state with only two operational civil airports at Thiruvananthapuram and Calicut, as operations at the Cochin airport have been suspended till August 26, 2018 on account of rising water levels in the operational area.