Kashmir’s economy burdened by unregulated airfare hikes: KCCI

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), a leading trade body in the Valley, has expressed deep dismay over the authorities’ failure to regulate airfares on the Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi routes.

In a statement, the KCCI highlighted that the high airfares are not only detrimental to Kashmir’s economy and tourism but also impose an undue burden on the local population. “The exorbitant prices for air travel, compared to other regions, are unfair and unsustainable,” the statement said.

The trade body criticised the current airfare structure, noting that “despite government efforts to promote Kashmir as a premier tourist destination, these exorbitant fares make the region an unaffordable option for travellers.” According to the KCCI, the steep fares adversely affect the business community, general public, students, elderly, sportspersons and patients needing medical treatment outside J&K.

The KCCI pointed out that recent analyses show airfares to Kashmir often exceed the cost of flights from Delhi to Dubai. This disparity, they argued, raises serious concerns about tourism, healthcare access, and the ability of citizens to return home from various parts of the country. The trade body also questioned the high fares given the current low tourist footfall.

Despite several attempts to address this issue, including a formal presentation to a Parliamentary Committee last year, the KCCI noted that the problem remains unresolved. “Authorities often cite demand and supply dynamics as justification for high fares; however, if demand for travel to Kashmir is truly high, airlines should respond by increasing flight availability rather than hiking prices,” the statement argued.

The KCCI criticised airlines for disregarding the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, which had urged a mechanism to cap upper and lower airfare limits to prevent “predatory pricing” and sudden fare surges. The committee also recommended close monitoring of airline websites to ensure transparency in fare representation and penalties for misinformation.

The KCCI has now called on the Minister for Civil Aviation and the Director General of Civil Aviation to implement the committee’s recommendations without further delay. They also urged airlines operating on the Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar route to increase flight availability to meet growing demand and ensure affordable travel for all.