UDF asks govt to curb rising airfares to Kerala from Gulf during festivals

The Congress-led UDF opposition in Kerala has appealed to the Civil Aviation Ministry to take steps to curb the "skyrocketing" air fares of flights from the Gulf countries to Kerala during the festive season.

The UDF has also sought the Centre's intervention to make provisions for direct flights from the Gulf countries to the four international airports in Kerala.

These requests have been made by Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan in a letter sent to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia.

"I am writing this letter to elicit your urgent action on the legitimate request of expatriates to make provisions for direct flights to Trivandrum, Kochi (Nedumbassery), Kannur, and Kozhikode International Airports from the Middle East and other foreign countries," he said.

Satheesan, in his letter, has said that expatriates from Kerala working in Gulf countries have raised concerns about the rising airfares during festive seasons and lack of direct flights to