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Developing mechanism to curb sharp hikes in airfares during high demand, DGCA tells parliamentary committee
India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has informed a Parliamentary panel that it is working to develop a mechanism to curb sharp increases in airfares during high demand or festive season.
The DGCA said it was also open to the idea of fixing a price ceiling on certain routes during times of high demand.
Recently, top officials from India's civil aviation ministry and several airlines appeared before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, where the members expressed concerns about pricing and flight safety.
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Meanwhile, some members of the committee, which is chaired by Congress MP KC Venugopal, demanded an audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, reported the Economic Times.
Preliminary report on Air India crash not submitted yet
Sources indicated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has not yet submitted its report on the crash, as the analysis of the recovered black boxes continues.
The bureau remains within the 30-day period mandated for submitting its preliminary findings, with the investigation involving experts from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the US National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing, and GE Aerospace.
Key officials, including Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Sinha, DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, and top executives from IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa, appeared before the committee.
Wilson informed the panel that Air India is addressing frequent complaints about seat conditions and amenities, committing to complete fleet retrofitting within two years while emphasising the airline's dedication to flight safety.
Audit of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security demanded
Committee members demanded an audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), citing multiple operational safety incidents and pressing for a timeline on the AAIB's crash report.
Sources confirmed that safety audits of Boeing 787 Dreamliners across various airlines, including Air India's 33 aircraft (26 787-8s and seven 787-9s), have been completed. These audits, mandated by the DGCA post-crash, examined fuel systems, engine controls, cabin air compressors, hydraulics, and take-off parameters, revealing no major safety issues but highlighting maintenance challenges like spare-part delays and coordination lapses.
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Former Civil Aviation Minister and PAC member Praful Patel, speaking to reporters, highlighted the DGCA's staffing shortage, with 53 per cent of positions vacant, and proposed hiring retired personnel on short-term contracts to enhance air safety oversight.
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Time of India
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Time of India
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Accusing Air India pilots a gross violation: Unions
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