‘Want to make air travel accessible to everyone’

New Delhi: High airfares are top on the mind of Ram Mohan Naidu, the TDP MP from Andhra Pradesh who took over as civil aviation minister on Thursday. He said rising fares pose a challenge to the common man.
“Govt’s goal is to make air travel accessible to everyone, and this can only be achieved if it becomes more affordable. Since the time I have been announced as aviation minister wherever I go, people have been mentioning prices have somehow increased over the last few years, especially after Covid.I need a thorough understanding of the issue, so, I am going to sit with the stakeholders,” Naidu, the youngest Cabinet minister at 36, told reporters. “I am going to hold review meetings. Definitely, my intention would be to bring down (ticket) prices because that is a challenge for the common man. Our intention is to take air travel to the common man, unless you make it affordable, it is not going to happen,” said Naidu.
Airfares have been high due to a serious demand-supply mismatch. While demand for air travel has touched new highs post Covid, almost 80 IndiGo planes are grounded due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues; GoAir stopped flying last May; SpiceJet is operating lesser flights due to fund crunch and both Boeing and Airbus are not able to deliver new planes to Air India Group, IndiGo and Akasa at expected rate due to global supply chain crunch.
Son of senior TDP leader and former Union minister Yerran Naidu, Ram Mohan has been representing Srikakulam since 2014.