Thiruvananthapuram ∙ Ex-Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac pointed out the difference between the air fares at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram airports. ‘How lucky are the people of Kochi?’ In a Facebook post that starts with, Thomas Isaac pointed out the huge difference between the airfares at the two airports.
Thomas Isaac opined that ‘the difference in fares at Kochi Airport, which is controlled by the Kerala government, and Thiruvananthapuram Airport, which is controlled by a private company, is a good case study’. Meanwhile, a section of people came forward pointing out that Thomas Isaac’s post contains half-truths and is misleading.
Thomas Isaac begins his note by pointing out that the charge to go from Kochi to Hyderabad today is Rs 5,171. He pointed out that the fare from Thiruvananthapuram to Hyderabad is Rs 9,295. His post enumerates the rate differences including this. Many people commented below the post saying, ‘Did this difference come to your notice when you lost your ministry?’ The comment of Awam Surur, who has laid out the figures in this group, is noteworthy.
Full text of Thomas Isaac’s note
How lucky are the people of Kochi? Today’s ticket fare from Kochi to Hyderabad is Rs 5171. 9295 from Thiruvananthapuram to Hyderabad. This difference was realized when I bought a ticket to attend the Southfest Federalism Seminar in Hyderabad. When I researched all the flights from Thiruvananthapuram charge much higher than Kochi.
For example, the ticket charge from Kochi to Bengaluru is Rs 1496 today. 5033 if going from Thiruvananthapuram. If going to Chennai or from Kochi, Rs 2119 is sufficient. If from Thiruvananthapuram you have to pay Rs 4926. Now to Delhi? 8478 from Kochi. 12,593 from Thiruvananthapuram.
Not a small difference. All figures belong to Indigo Airlines. So it cannot be said that the airline is looting. The robbery is at the airport. There is no user fee in Kochi. In Thiruvananthapuram, the user fee is Rs 598 for domestic flights and Rs 1260 for international flights. However, this difference is not fully explained. Perhaps it is the difference in fees charged by the airport from the airlines.
A good case study is the difference between Kochi Airport, which is under the control of the Kerala government and Thiruvananthapuram Airport, which is under the control of a private company. What was it, prominent people like Shashi Tharoor were arguing that if Adani comes, it will be at Thiruvananthapuram Airport. And now what? Even after a year of Adani’s takeover, there has been no difference in the facilities at the airport.
Why, the pre-Covid flights have not even been restored. If you are traveling from Thiruvananthapuram, you will have to pay double the fare. If this is for domestic flights, how much for international flights! It’s amazing that no one questions this. Adani Airport Company should explain why this difference.
Awam Surur’s comment on Isaac’s post
This was the situation even before Adani took over. The status quo continues in private airports not taken over by Adani and public sector airports not taken over by Adani. Maybe Sir Isaac doesn’t know the number of factors that influence air fare. However, you are not a person who does not know that there are several factors. So the intention is to mislead. For example,
There are 5 flights per day from Kochi to Hyderabad (average 900+ seats) and only 1 flight from Thiruvananthapuram (average 180 seats).
There are 8 flights per day from Kochi to Delhi (average 1516+ seats) and only 2 flights from Thiruvananthapuram (average 360 seats).
There are 16 flights per day from Kochi to Bengaluru (average 2880+ seats) and only 3 flights from Thiruvananthapuram (average 540 seats).
There are 5 flights a day from Kochi to Chennai (average 900+ seats) and only 3 flights from Thiruvananthapuram (average 540 seats).
Kozhikode also has a similar situation as shown above.
In short, Kochi is the hub of domestic services in Kerala. Naturally, the ticket fare will be lower in Kochi as there are more seats. Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode ticket fares are higher due to less seats. Moreover, both these airports have passenger traffic potential. Naturally, if the seats are reduced, the fare will increase. Malayalees traveling for the fair are forced to travel via Kochi.
While Airport Economic Regulatory Authority norms apply to airport tariffs, private airports are often able to offer many other concessions to airline operators. It is done by Kochi Airport Management. But Thiruvananthapuram, which was in the public sector, has not been able to do this, and Kozhikode, which is still in the public sector, has not been able to do this.
Now, if the state government can intervene in this matter at any level, the government should have intervened fairly. The last government when you were the finance minister convened a meeting of airline operators and announced 39 new services, but care was taken not to give even one to Kozhikode Airport which is in the public sector. While name only services were allowed to Thiruvananthapuram, more services were provided to Kannur and Kochi. In short this post is not well intentioned.
Much of what is said in this is false and half-truths. NB: I am not a person who blindly accepts Adanitization in the name of Privatization. But this post is misleading.
English Summary: Dr Thomas Isaac’s FB Post On The Difference Of Flight Ticket Fare In Kochi And Trivandrum