Warning: Airlines in India may shut down if this practise continues, says Aviation Minister

In the backdrop of Indian airline companies reporting huge losses in the second quarter of 2019-20, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday that “some predatory pricing is taking place” in airfares and the government is concerned that if this continues, more airlines will shut down. He, however, ruled out any government plan to regulate fares. “The interesting thing that we have observed is that on Delhi-Mumbai route 20 years ago the average fare was of Rs 5,100. Today, the average fare is Rs 4,600. Some predatory pricing is taking place. It means people are selling tickets below their cost,” Puri told reporters.