Low airfares on Gulf route may attract litigation: govt

Making Indian carriers offer low airfares on the Gulf route might result in discriminatory pricing and attract litigation by foreign airlines, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry.

The ministry conveyed this view to a Parliamentary panel, which sought steps to ensure that the public is protected.

Sharp fluctuations in airfares have been a matter of debate for long and there have been voices from many quarters, including Parliamentarians, to put in place measures to curb volatility in prices. In its submission to the panel, the ministry said that under Aircraft Rule 1937, every airline is required to establish tariff having regard to all relevant factors including cost of operation and characteristic of service.