Delhi, 7 December (H.S): Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the Lok Sabha, today that the number of air passengers has doubled from six crore in 2014 to 14.5 crore at present.
He also stated that despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising aviation fuel costs, airfares have remained competitive with railway AC first class fares.
Scindia further revealed that by 2030, the sector is expected to grow three times with an estimated 42 crore air passengers. Responding to queries about the rise in fares during peak seasons and natural calamities, Scindia stated that the civil aviation sector is a seasonal one and highlighted the role of the tariff monitoring commitees in regulating fares on 60 randomly selected routes.
He also stressed on the fact that airlines have been facing losses and the high cost of air turbine fuel has had a significant impact on their viability. The minister assured that the government is working towards ensuring reasonable profits for airlines and controlling airfares for the benefit of consumers.
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