The Centre has decided not to take action in response to complaints about outrageous airfares for visiting Kerala during the approaching Onam season, claiming that dynamic pricing is in place and that travelers must make reservations in advance.

The office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated in a statement on Saturday that the union government had declined to take action.

On July 5, Vijayan asked Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for help in the situation, claiming that the expensive costs would negatively affect many Keralites living in both India and West Asia who were anxious to travel home for Onam celebrations.

According to the announcement, Scindia notified the CM in a letter that the decision-making power over airfare is with the airline industry.

“The festival season only results in an increase of 9.77%. The sole option, according to the release, which quoted the letter from the Union Minister, is to reserve tickets in advance because only the dynamic pricing mechanism is now in use.

Many expat Keralites have been forced to either cancel or postpone their travel plans due to the steep airfares to the southern state for travel between August 15 and September 15, Vijayan had noted.

Additionally, the Kerala government asked for permission to operate chartered aircraft to bring non-resident Keralites from the UAE to India just for the Onam celebrations.

Regarding that, the Union minister stated that each request is carefully examined before authorisation for chartered flights is provided. 

Source- Theprint