This refers to the editorial, “On the wings of change” (November 2). The proposal to charge two per cent levy on air tickets on national and international tickets merits reconsideration. Since price for crude oil is low, the airlines stand substantially benefitted. Moreover, under the dynamic fares arrangement, the airlines are already charging unreasonably high prices, with cancellation charges made at their will.
Instead of passing on the burden to the middle class, there should be a more balanced approach to review other costs. By increasing the fare, a strange criterion is being chalked out to peg the air fares to, say, `2,500 for an hour’s travel. The new class of travellers that the Government has in view is from the lower middle class. However, they are not interested in flying and are rather interested in the policies of the Government to control the prices that have caused untold hardship. For the Government to plan a felicitation of air travel for them, when they are struggling for survival, is a cruel joke.