The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) met on Wednesday, and the main topic was “skyrocketing” airline prices and “little action” from government agencies and regulators.

Several MPs demanded accountability from private airport operators to provide relief for passengers. PAC chairperson K C Venugopal referred to the panel meeting as “one the best” in the past. The panel has been known for its fiery and sometimes acrimonious debates along party-line.

He said that members expressed concern about the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority’s (AERA) inability to “act properly as a regulatory body”.

After the meeting, he told PTI that “we need clear-cut answers.” He said that the regulatory agency could not adequately answer the questions raised by the members.

The senior Congress MP said: “Concerns have been raised by members about the skyrocketing cost of airfare, but there has been no action taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation or the Civil Aviation Department.”

Sources claim that some MPs are calling for an amendment to AERA Act, in order to make the act more effective in regulating fares. This is due to general dissatisfaction over issues such as the “arbitrary” increase in user development fee and price hike. They also allege that the existing system fails in its efforts at fixing accountability and transparency.

“Some MPs were upset by the way in which aeronautical and non-aeronautical Tariffs are decided, and they emphasized the need for a prior consultation mechanism,” a source stated. A member of parliament said that a quasi-judicial panel should hear such cases.

AERA’s chairperson and Civil Aviation Secretary were both present at the panel meeting where presentations were made about related issues. The AERA is responsible for regulating tariffs for services at major airports. However, the DGCA focuses on safety.

Sources claim that PAC members are generally not satisfied with the answers of officials. The panel has asked the officials to provide a more detailed response. Sources say that several members cited airports in which the user development fee, which is included with the airfare, had increased by many times after they were handed to private operators.

Some of them asked officials for details about the revenue collected and how it was used. Sources say that an MP referred to the real estate development at airports and the subsequent rentals collected by private operators, and demanded transparency for the revenue.

An MP lauded government’s UDAN plan, which envisages connectivity for smaller towns, but noted that private airlines are not serving or not adequately serving many of the routes, as they are focused on more profitable routes. He added that it is a blow to his vision of allowing the common man to travel.