Cong MP Vivek Tankha calls for protection from rising air fares on Gulf routes

Congress leader Vivek Tankha has appealed to the government to resume budget flights on Gulf routes to help Indians living in the region visit India during the summer months.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha on Friday appealed to the government to resume budget flights on Gulf routes as Indians living in the region visit the country during the summer months.

In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Tankha said over one crore Indians live across the Gulf region and need to be protected from rising air fares on India-UAE and Gulf routes.

A vast majority of the middle-class workers whose livelihoods sustain millions of families back home in India want to come home during the holiday season, he said.

''For most of them, the annual summer visit is the one window in the year to join their farnilies -- it is not a luxury but a necessity. Employers in UAE and Gulf region typically provide a FTA (Fixed Travel Allowance) of around AED 1,000 per person towards this purpose, which, till recently, was sufficient to meaningfully offset the cost of travel.

''Airfares on India-Gulf routes have now more than doubled. The allowance no longer covers even half the fare. The result is that millions of family members who otherwise would meet annually simply are not able to visit India as it is no more affordable,'' he said in his letter.

Tankha also sent a copy to Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu.

The Congress leader said while the economic burden was real, the human cost of prolonged separation, of children growing up without a parent and the quiet toll it takes, is equally significant.

''It is respectfully urged that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and its agencies undertake an immediate review of fare structures on India-UAE & Gulf routes and take steps to restore them to an accessible level or with the help of the Finance Ministry seek subsidisation from June to August the present summer period,'' Tankha said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can verify this fact from its embassies in UAE & Gulf regions, he noted.

''Expanding the frequency and availability of budget airline operations on these corridors would provide the most direct and effective relief. This issue warrants urgent attention in public interest,'' he said.

In a post on X, he said, ''Please recommence budget air flights for 1 crore Indian in UAE/Gulf to visit families!! Spiralling air tickets is beyond their FTA budget of 1000 dirhams.''.

''Summer break is from June to August. Families await them. Appeal to FM Nirmala Sitharaman, MEA and Aviation Minister,'' the Congress MP said.