India-UK airfares skyrocket as red list travel ban ends

Alarmed at skyrocketing airfares between India and the UK since India came off the UK’s red list travel ban over the weekend, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Sanjeev Gupta, has formally complained to India’s Civil Aviation Ministry.

He said the inflated fares come at a time when colleges in the UK are beginning admissions. Parents and guardians of those admitted to UK educational institutes have also expressed their dismay and frustration at the exorbitant flight fares.

The IAS officer shared multiple screenshots of several airlines, including British Airways and Air India, in his Twitter handle, which shows exorbitant flight fares of as high as £4,000 for one way.

Responding to the IAS officer's tweet, Air India said: "Sir, we are trying to identify the source of these fares. The current fares available on our official website for Delhi-London sector is approximately Rs 1.15 Lakh (£1,117.48)."

To this, Gupta said: "Even Rs 1.15 lakh (£1117.48) is exorbitant and unaffordable for most students seeking admission purely on merit and not on financial strength…"

After the to and fro on Twitter, the Civil Aviation Ministry has asked private airlines to submit details about the airfares they are charging for flights between India and the UK.

(ANI)