AI, IA Gulf air tariff draws political flak

Hassan said the state will urge the Centre to open up the skies in the Gulf sector also as it has done in the Far Eastern and Sri Lankan sectors. Though the state had scrapped air turbine fuel tax for international carriers, A-I and IA have not “passed the benefit” to passengers in full, he said. Two businessmen, M B R Shetty who has set up a pharmaceutical company in Abu Dhabi as a joint venture with the UAE and M Yusuf Ali, a major shareholder in the Kochi international airport, voiced support for slashing airfares. Air India last year carried 2.8 lakh passengers from the UAE and about 45 per cent of them travelled to Kerala. The airline operates 120 flights from the Gulf and it earned a profit of about Rs 12 bn from this sector.

Hassan said he “received complaints” against the high fare in both Bahrain and Kuwait which he visited on the first leg of his three-nation Gulf tour. During his tour, Hassan also called on the Dubai crown prince and UAE defence minister Shaikh Mohammed and invited them to visit Kerala which was accepted. He also called on the ruler of the emirates of Ajman and the UAE minister for higher education and culture who said Indian expats were “peace-loving” people.