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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Cap air travel ‘CF’ upto one pc

AI generated image Mumbai/Nagpur: A consumer rights panel has sought urgent intervention by the government to a ‘systematic exploitation of fliers by a cartel’ comprising commercial airlines and online travel portals through arbitrary and exorbitant ‘Convenience Fees’ (CF) – estimated at a staggering Rs. 14,000-cr per year - and demanding a cap of 1-pc. A representation has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister for Civil Aviation (MoCA) K. Rammohan Naidu, besides heads of the...

Cap air travel ‘CF’ upto one pc

AI generated image Mumbai/Nagpur: A consumer rights panel has sought urgent intervention by the government to a ‘systematic exploitation of fliers by a cartel’ comprising commercial airlines and online travel portals through arbitrary and exorbitant ‘Convenience Fees’ (CF) – estimated at a staggering Rs. 14,000-cr per year - and demanding a cap of 1-pc. A representation has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister for Civil Aviation (MoCA) K. Rammohan Naidu, besides heads of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and Competition Commission of India (CCI), and officials of all concerned departments, Council for Protection of Rights (CPR)-Nagpur President Barr. Vinod Tiwari on the issue. The CPR has claimed that all commercial carriers and top online travel agencies (OTAs) like MakeMyTrip, ClearTrip, EaseMyTrip, GoIbibo plus others were charging exorbitant, unnecessary and non-refundable ‘CFs’ that has no bearing on the actual cost of digital processing of the tickets. “It appears that the airlines and OTAs operate virtually as a ‘cartel’ to fleece the air passengers. The CFs range from Rs 350-Rs 600 per flier per sector, though some smaller individual portals levy a flat rate of around Rs 300-400, regardless of the ticket prices. We want the Centre’s intervention and an investigation by the CCI into this suspected collusion,” Tiwari told ‘The Perfect Voice’. These gross CFs have become a mandatory component of the air ticket “rather than payment of an optional service”. In Jan. 2026, the CCPA barred all restaurants in the country from levying a separate ‘Service Charge’ on the final food bills following a Delhi High Court ruling, then under what rules can airlines-OTAs levy the mandatory CF, demanded Tiwari. The CPR chief said that airlines already recover infrastructure and operational costs through the base fares and fuel surcharges, making the additional Internet-handling or Web check-in related charges irrelevant and dubious. Accusing the of ‘drip pricing’, he said the CF charges are suppressed in the initial fare displayed on the screens, but pop up only at the final payment stage, “practically ‘trapping’ the consumers and ultimately forcing them to pay up”. Tiwari’s representation has proposed a 0.5-1.0 pc ceiling on the CF, irrespective of the ticket price, a full audit of the huge revenues reportedly generated by the airlines-OTAs vide the CFs, and a refund of half the CFs collected in case of cancellations. “This will prevent exploitation of the fliers, restrict the airlines-OTAs from milking routine digital payments as high-margin revenue sources, often 15pc-20 pc of the ticket costs, and lead to fair competition among all the stakeholders,” suggested Tiwari. This 0.5-1.0 pc limit would additionally benefit the air passengers by making flying somewhat cheaper as envisioned by the PM, reduce the burden on low-cost, short-hop travelers, the budget-conscious holiday crowds, or the growing tribe of ‘frequent fliers’ in the country while actually boosting the turbulent aviation sector, Tiwari contended.

Knives out in legislature

Updated: Mar 21, 2025

Disha Salian

Mumbai: Death of celebrity manager Disha Salian in 2020 once again rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Thursday. While cabinet ministers Nitesh Rane and Shambhuraj Desai demanded that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray be arrested in the case, BJP MLA Amit Satam in the assembly and another BJP member Chitra Wagh in the council demanded that the report of SIT to probe Salian’s death be made public.


Incidentally, amidst repeated disruptions in both the houses, some members from the treasury benches were seen speaking in favour of Aditya Thackeray, while Shiv Sena (UBT) members like Adv Anil Parab were seen supporting the BJP members’ demand that the report of the SIT probe be made public. In addition, there were allegations and counter allegations and personal accusations among members from the treasury and opposition benches which led to heated debate on occasions.


The opposition termed the attempts from the treasury benches to link Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray’s name in the case, as a ‘conspiracy’.


“I think this matter has gone to the court. We have no idea what he (Disha’s father) has said, but Aaditya Thackeray is a mature leader, a young leader. The Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to defame him by putting pressure on him. We don’t need to answer to this conspiracy. The court will answer,” Ambadas Danve said.


Earlier in the day, when the house gathered for the business, Minister of State for Home appraised the assembly of the status in this case. “SIT has been formed to probe in the case. Their report has not been received as yet. However, the government shall act according to directives from the court,” the minister told the house.


Another BJP minister Nitesh Rane, however, said that since Satish Salian has levelled allegations against an MVA minister, that leader be treated like a common person and that everybody should be treated equally before the law. Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai too supported the demand. “Since the allegations are grave, the person in question should be immediately arrested and the case be investigated,” he said.


Later, while speaking to media in the legislature premises, Rane asked Uddhav Thackeray to come clean on the issue. “If they say that we are politicizing the issue, Uddhav Thackeray should also tell the people why he had called, not just once but twice, to the then union minister Narayan Rane urging him to save his son?” Rane said.


He also accused the opposition of shying away from coming clean on the issue. “If they feel that we are not telling the truth, they should say so in the house. But they are shying away from doing so. Bhaskar Jadhav, who is always aggressive, was nowhere to be seen when this issue came up in the house. Sunil Prabhu too escaped the house under the pretext of a phone call. I challenge them to say that whatever I said on the issue is wrong,” Rane said.


He also said that Aditya Thackeray should resign on moral grounds till his name is cleared in the case.


BJP MLA Amit Satam demanded that the details of the SIT probe be made public so that the people would know if the probe is headed in right direction.


Interestingly, while the ruling parties were targeting the opposition in the case, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar surprised all with his unexpected support to Thackerays. “I do not have any evidences in the case. But if her father has made any fresh allegations that needs to be investigated thoroughly. The assembly can discuss the issue at length tomorrow. In the meanwhile, members like Rane, who seem to have some evidences in the case should hand them over to the investigating agencies and help the probe,” he told the house.


Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Gaikwad and Sheetal Mhatre too toed the line and demanded that more and more evidences should come forth.


Similarly, when members of treasury benches were pushing for revealing the details of the probe till date to the public, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab supported the demand. “Doing that shall conclusively prove the innocence of Aditya Thackeray,” he said.

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