Congress MP Shafi Parambil moved a private member’s resolution in the Lok Sabha, urging the government to regulate exorbitant airfares. Representing Vadakara in Kerala, Shafi Parambil highlighted the severe financial strain on migrant workers in the Gulf region due to skyrocketing ticket prices during vacation seasons. He pointed out that most of these workers are unskilled or semi-skilled, earning limited incomes, and the drastic increase in airfare drags them into significant debt.
Shafi Parambil’s resolution came a day after Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu promised to investigate sudden fare hikes on Air Vistara, following complaints from MPs and a nudge from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Parambil emphasised the emotional and financial toll on expatriate families who save all year for a trip home, only to be faced with prohibitive costs. He illustrated his point with a stark example: a flight from Kochi to Dubai cost Rs 19,062 on July 27 but surged to Rs 77,000 for August 31, even though only nine seats were left on the latter date.
The Congress MP stressed that airlines operate at full capacity during peak seasons, reaping huge profits while exploiting passengers. He condemned the current policy of “unregulated overpricing” as unethical and unjust, particularly for poor migrant workers. Parambil urged the government to implement a reasonable upper limit on airfare and to convene a joint meeting with airline operators, people’s representatives, and other stakeholders to address the issue urgently.
He also suggested the establishment of a quasi-judicial body to ethically and equitably regulate and monitor air tariffs. Parambil’s call for action resonated with the House, which had previously debated the issue multiple times. He underscored the need for administrative and political will to put an end to unfair airfare practices and ensure justice for migrant workers struggling to reunite with their families.
Parambil concluded by emphasising the importance of affordable air travel for migrant workers who toil to provide for their families and questioned how ordinary laborers could afford such exorbitant prices. He painted a vivid picture of the financial burden on a family of four, where a one-way flight could cost Rs 3.2 lakh, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory measures.
During the debate, Kollam MP NK Premachandran, BJP’s Nishikant Dubey, Dushyant Singh among others participated and detailed the issues faced by the expatriates.
