INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
recommended to the government not to allow airlines to charge high fares during the festive and holiday seasons in the name of
deregulation." The committee has taken a very strong view and the committee notes specially that during vacations and festivals, some
airlines are charging 8-10 times more," All India Trinamool Congress MP and Head of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism
charge more than 50 per cent of basic fare as cancellation charges," O'Brien said."The tax and the fuel surcharge should be refunded to the
passengers Because airlines are charging too much, especially some private airlines."The panel in its report on "Issues related to improving
consumers' satisfaction of airlines" which was presented to the Parliament on December 21 pointed out inadequate check-in facilities by low
cost carriers."The Committee specifically pointed out malpractices adopted by low cost airlines like IndiGo
The Ministry, it seems, is following a hands-off approach so far as check-in process and check-in counters are concerned," the report
said."The Committee recommends that the number of check-in counters and personnel deployed at the counters should be directly proportional
to the number of flights being operated by the airlines from a particular airport."Besides, the panel said that maximum limit prescribed by
airlines, except Air India, for charging excess baggage charges should be enhanced." The excess baggage charges, charged by the airlines,
The Committee feels that the airlines should not consider excess baggage charges as an opportunity to increase their revenue apart from
their ticket sales," the panel said in the report.Further, the panel observed that "despite the mitigations and mechanism put in place, the
Ministry's role in containing the discourteous, rude, arrogant and aggressive behaviour of airlines staff with customers or passengers is
far from satisfactory"."Almost all airlines have introduced a 'No-Fly' list for the unruly passengers, but when it comes to the turn of
airlines to contain their unruly staff, they escape from their responsibility by saying that necessary training is being imparted upon
It is very essential that the airlines have to adopt consumer friendly approach," the report said."The Committee desires that the Ministry
shall ensure that strictest possible action is taken against unruly staff and heavy penalties imposed on them."In addition, the panel
recommended instituting a "proper monitoring system" to check the behaviour of airlines' staff."The Committee is of the view that the
training given to airlines staff should be more effective, intense and thorough
The Committee, therefore, desires that the Ministry shall ensure to provide through training to all categories of airlines staff,"the report
