Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Dec 6: The Skyrocketing Airfare from Leh to Delhi or Jammu and Chandigarh is worrisome for Ladakhis travelling out of Leh.
As the Leh-Srinagar and Leh Manali National Highway is closed for winter month there is no alternate than travel by air.
The current one way airfare from Leh to Delhi is over Rs. 23,000 which is much expensive than travelling to some foreign countries from Delhi. This year the airfare situation has gone from bad to worse due to closure of Jet Airways and reduction of one GoAir flight during winters.
General public especially pilgrims and patients travelling out of Leh for treatment have to bear the brunt.
Taking the advantage of road closure private airline operators are charging as per their will and unfortunately government control appears non-existing.
When contacted Airport Authority Director, Sonam Nurboo said, due to mismatch of supply and demands airfares has shoot up and this year two flights were reduced during winters thus there is nearly a shortage of 300 seats on daily basis.
He added that UT official and Army movement adds more to the growing trend of air traffic.
“Only four flights operate during winter whereas during summers there are 13 to 16 flights on daily basis. Due to non-availability of air fuel in Leh, all the flight have to carry their fuel for both ways thus load in aircraft gets effected,” he maintained.
Sonam said that due to introduction of UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (Regional Connectivity Service) in Kargil and Nobra, little burden may reduce if Kargil UDAN starts however Nubra may take some more time to start due to infrastructure requirement.
He informed that if more flight operators are invited to Leh, it may reduce the airfare and Jet Airways slot is already available to any operator.
When Vistara, GoAir and Air India Station manager were contacted for their comment, they refused to comment.
As per sources private Airlines operators prefer to shift their flight to other sectors during winter where they find it more profitable.
Recently Ladakh Member of Parliament Jamyang Tsering Namgyal had asked the parliament if it is possible to operate night flight in Leh to which civil aviation minister had said that there is no such demands from any Airlines to operate night flight to Leh.
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