P Chidambaram Calls Out Centre for Rising Airfares, says ‘An economy class Delhi-Chennai flight costs Rs 28,000’

New Delhi (India), 19th June 2023: Congress leader P Chidambaram has slammed the BJP-led central government for the country’s soaring airfares. Taking to Twitter, the veteran Congress member remarked that economy class Air India flights from Delhi to Chennai costed Rs 28,000 on the same day, whereas the same journey with Vistara costed only Rs 12,000.

In response to soaring airfares, he blamed a lack of competition in the airline industry. Taking a jab at BJP followers, the Congress politician stated that they have overlooked the major issue of rising airfares on various routes, while adding that who flies in what class is unimportant.

He made reference to those on social media encouraging him to forego business class flights in favour of economy class flights.

In a late night Tweet on June 18th Chidambram said, “I have the prices for economy class too. On the SAME day and on the SAME route, the prices are Rs 28,000 (Air India) and Rs 12,000 (Vistara). As usual, the bhakts have missed the central issue. The issue is not who travels in what class. The issue is, why are fares rising practically every week?”

He further questioned and wrote, “And why is AI charging Rs 28,000 and Vistara charging Rs 12,000 on the same day and on the same route? This is what a monopoly or a duopoly does. In a free market, there must be competition. The more intense the competition, the better it will be.”

Chidambaram had previously chastised the Centre over the high costs for business class flights from Delhi to Chennai operated by Air India and Vistara. He stated that these flights cost Rs 63,000 and Rs 57,000, respectively, on Air India and Vistara. He went on to say that airlines are expanding routes, cutting flights on existing routes, and raising rates.

His tweet further read, “In India’s free market, when demand increases, prices will increase. Airlines will expand their routes, curtail flights on old routes, and jack up prices. India will be the Vishwaguru to the world on monopolistic capitalism.”

In May, the Wadia Group-owned airline Go First ceased flight operations and filed for insolvency. The airline blamed Pratt &Whitney (PW), a US-based aircraft engine manufacturer, for supplying faulty engines.

The suspension of Go First’s flight operations caused tickets to spike across multiple itineraries. The Wadia Group-owned airline controls 6.4% of the Indian aviation sector.