Port Blair: Airfares on the Andaman-mainland sectors have once again come under the spotlight, with the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) urging the Centre to regulate soaring ticket prices and protect the interests of lakhs of islanders and tourists.
G. Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of ANTCC, has written to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation seeking immediate intervention to cap airfares on flights connecting Port Blair with Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and other mainland cities.
Describing air travel as the Islands’ lifeline, Bhasker said the absence of fare regulation has made travel unaffordable for residents who depend entirely on flights for higher education, specialised medical treatment, employment, business and family emergencies. Citing his recent travel, he said a one-way ticket from Delhi to Sri Vijaya Puram for two passengers cost ₹73,662, highlighting the alarming surge in fares.
Bhasker said exorbitant airfares are not only placing an unbearable burden on islanders but are also hurting tourism by discouraging visitors. He also pointed to reduced flight frequencies during the lean season, which further restrict seat availability and push fares higher. He urged the Ministry to fix a ceiling on airfares, ensure affordable year-round pricing, increase flight frequencies, promote greater airline competition, provide concessional fares for patients travelling for medical treatment, and operate additional flights during peak seasons.
Stating that air connectivity is an essential service and not a luxury for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bhasker appealed to the Centre to introduce a fair airfare policy to safeguard the interests of islanders and revive tourism.
