MP demands cheaper airfares for Keralites in Gulf

New DelhI: A Lok Sabha MP Thursday sought the central government’s intervention to provide cheaper airfares for Keralites working in Gulf countries to visit their home state.
A.P. Abdullakutty, MP from Kannur alleged that the public sector airlines - both Air India and Indian - had been ‘looting’ the passengers in the Gulf sector to Kerala, particularly during the festival season.
However, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel took strong exception of the statement.
‘How can you say they are looting? It’s only public sector, which comes up with help whenever we are in emergency. It was the public sector flights, which cancelled regular flights and went to pick up Indians from Lebanon,’ Patel said.‘Who else would do it?’ the aviation minister asked.
Patel said the Air India Express had been introduced ‘keeping in view of the large number of Keralites working in Gulf sector’.
He assured the Kerala MPs that he would however look into the concerns expressed.
03/08/06 India eNews.com

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