Govt announces cut in Haj airfare

The government has announced a significant reduction in airfares for devotees travelling to Saudi Arabia, with the prices of round tickets being slashed by Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 97,000.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi described the move as a major step that would end the political and economic exploitation of Haj performers as was being done during the Congress-led UPA regime in the name of offering subsidies. 

The minister said, the move sought to address concerns about airfares going up after the Haj subsidy was abolished last month.Mr Naqvi told reporters in New Delhi that the PMO took a keen interest in bringing down the rates. The decision is in line with our empowerment without appeasement policy. After



the abolition of subsidies, the government had asked the airlines not to charge undue fares from Haj pilgrims. 

The government made available details of the 2014 airfares to highlight the price difference. The 18 to 49 per cent reduction in rates will be available on tickets for Jeddah and Medina on national carrier Air India, Saudia and Flynas, an air carrier based in Saudi Arabia.

The maximum difference of about Rs. 97,000 is on the Srinagar fare, which has almost been halved. A round ticket from the Kashmir city cost Rs. 1,98,350 in 2014 and will now come for Rs. 1,01,400. The minimum cut -- of around Rs. 20,000 -- will be on a ticket from Varanasi, which is down from Rs. 1,12,300 to Rs. 92,004.