As floods wreak havoc in Kerala and parts of Karnataka, few airline companies have hiked ticket prices for flights to the rain-hit parts of the states. An economy class flight from Bengaluru to Mangaluru now costs as much as Rs 18,000. The airfares are usually around Rs 4,000 but now it seems that the airlines want to make the most of the situation.
The move drew criticism from people on social media including Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, who took to Twitter to raise concern over the hiked airfare.
Gowda tweeted: "Private Airlines are at money making Shame !!! Today Mangalore to Bengaluru ticket rate is Sky rocketed at Rs 18000/- This route Average rate is never more than Rs 4000/- in this route . It's the time to introduce more Flights @jayantsinha, [sic]"
Gowda also asked the minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha to introduce more flights on the route.
He further claimed that the minister should intervene and seal a cap on the exorbitantly high airfares. "Mangalore Airport is near to Kerala State , Most roads connected to Coastal is Affected , Trains not running , Can Sri @jayantsinha intervene immediately to seal a cap on rate Mangalore - Bengaluru , Mangalore - Mumbai and all Sector, [sic]" Gowda tweeted on Thursday.
Are airlines insensitive to calamities?
Several Twitter users expressed their frustration over the shameful act of the airlines and suggested that profiting during the times of natural disasters should be dealt with stringent laws. Some users even went on to say that these airlines had lost their humanity.
After flight operations at Cochin International Airport were suspended till Aug 26, airlines had increased the fare prices for flights between Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram to around Rs 15,000.
The airlines have been directed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to not hike prices on these routes, Times of India reported.
