Airlines in Rajasthan announces steep hike in airfares

JAIPUR - Domestic airlines announced steep hike in the fares for the flights to and from Rajasthan, as the stir by the members of Gujjar community have blocked road and rail transport in the region.

Hundreds of members of the Gujjar community have blocked railway routes in Rajasthan’s Dausa District, demanding five percent quotas in government jobs and educational institutions.

Interacting with mediapersons, Arun Choudhary, a travel agent, said the airlines have literally capitalised on the road and rail blockade and also the minimum number of flights touching Jaipur.

“The airlines are benefiting but its not benefiting year to year. The normal price for any sector like Jaipur-Delhi, Jaipur- Mumbai, or Jaipur-Bangalore, the pricing hiked over 70-80 percent from last year. So normally we are getting three to four thousand rupees in all, over this year is getting 10 to 12 thousand rupees and still we are approaching the airlines to get single-single tickets,” said Choudhary.

“The problem is that they have very limited seat capacity from Jaipur. Jaipur-Delhi they have only three flights, one is Jet Airways and other two is (are) in Kingfisher morning and evening. People don’t want to travel by road due to panic of Gujjars,” he added.

Dasrath Singh, another travel agent, said the airlines are reaping it rich, courtesy, the Gujjars.

“The airlines got the maximum benefit of this (Gujjar protest) as the passengers taking roads are not being able to travel. So, they have looked upto airways. Buses, trains have been stopped, which diverted the business towards airlines,” said Singh.

“The normal fares of airlines which were four to five thousands are now 10 to 12 thousands rupees which means airlines are gaining maximum profit out of this,” he added. By Lokender Singh (ANI)