New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has asked the private airlines to explain the reasons for imposing Rs 150 per head surcharge to meet additional jet fuel expenses.
This comes in the wake of the High Court asking the Civil Aviation Ministry to explain how the airlines have decided to impose the congestion surcharge.
Majority of the airlines have written to the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) that they are unable to withdraw the surcharge.
"As we have explained to the Ministry, we will explain to the court why the surcharge was imposed," PTI quoted Kingfisher Airline chief Vijay Mallya as saying.
Following the High Court directive, the airlines had been asked by DGCA to give their point of view on the surcharge by March 24.
Mallya, who is a prominent member of the industry body Federation of Indian Airlines, said if the airlines decided to withdraw the surcharge and increase air fares by the same amount, "will it be correct?".
Air fares are not regulated by the government and airlines are free to fix the rates, he said. "Therefore, the (congestion) surcharge should not be looked at with hostility", he said, adding: "as and when the situation eases and there is no congestion, every airline will be happy to remove it".
(With agency inputs)
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