The pattern of steadily rising airline ticket costs was confirmed on Thursday by Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, the recently appointed minister of civil aviation. He discussed his own experience as a passenger with reporters, reiterating the government's commitment to finding a solution.

Naidu stated that his main goal will be to increase air travel accessibility and comfort for the general public. Naidu assumed leadership of the Ministry of Civil Aviation on June 13.

“Since the Covid days, there has been significant fluctuation in airfare prices. As a passenger myself, I have observed these hikes. We are going to review this,” said Ram Mohan Naidu in an exclusive interview to India Today TV.

Travellers around India are becoming increasingly concerned about the increase in airfares. The convenience of travelling on both domestic and international routes has been impacted by the recent significant hikes in ticket prices.

Additionally, the nation's aviation industry has been struggling with interruptions in the worldwide supply chain, which have caused delays in jet deliveries and increased ticket prices. According to estimates, domestic aviation traffic reached a record 153 million passengers in 2023, up 23% from the previous year. By 2030, this number is expected to rise to 300 million.

Ram Mohan Naidu
Image Source: Instagram

Ram Mohan Naidu stated that it is important to guarantee comfort, ease, and safety because air travel is becoming more accessible to a larger audience.

“Our agenda is clear: we will make air travel more easily accessible,” stated the Union Minister. “Passengers will be at the core of our work."

To achieve these goals, Ram Mohan Naidu said he plans to create a 100-day action plan, which will eventually lead to a long-term vision for the sector aligned with the "Vikashit Bharat" plan, marking 100 years of India's independence.

100-Day Action Plan by Ram Mohan Naidu for the Aviation Sector

 

"We are developing a 100-day plan to address immediate challenges, and from there, we will transition to a long-term vision—the ‘Vikashit Bharat’ plan for the next 100 years of independence," he said, before delving into details.

According to the minister, important measures will include advancing the Udaan Scheme by linking additional tier 2 and tier 3 cities, promoting the Digi Yatra facility nationally, and transforming all airports into 100% environmentally friendly facilities.

"Our goal is to lower the cost of travel and transform aeroplanes into India's new railways." The average person is a little concerned about the high cost of tickets. We still hope to increase the number of individuals who travel by plane," he said.

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