Airfare hikes: Keralam CM and Opposition Leader slam airlines for ‘fleecing’ NRKs

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan (file)

The ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) Opposition on Thursday (October 29, 2026) slammed the practice of airline companies of jacking up airfares, especially in the Keralam-West Asia sector, during festival seasons.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the practice, pointing out that successive governments in the State had raised the issue with the Union government.

Mr. Satheesan said his government has again written to the Centre drawing attention to the issue after the Chief Secretary had chaired a meeting of the stakeholders. “Airlines continue to fleece non-resident Keralites (NRKs) despite successive UDF and LDF governments in Keralam urging the Centre to place a cap on airfares, he said. Maintaining that Kerala MPs have repeatedly raised the matter in the Parliament, Mr. Satheesan said he himself had taken it up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu.

“NRKs should be able to visit their families at least once a year or once in two years. But now their entire savings are being used up in a single trip. The State government is taking a strong stand on this issue,” Mr. Satheesan said.

Mr. Vijayan concurred with the Chief Minister, saying that the Opposition LDF had “no difference of opinion” on the matter. “Ticket rates are often increased five-fold or even higher. There is no justification for it,” he said.

“Are the NRKs a section that should be subjected to such fleecing? They play a very crucial role as far as Keralam and the country are concerned. But they do not get that consideration from the country and the Centre, and we too are unable to provide it to them (due to this),” he said.

The matter came up in the Assembly after the LDF members moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on the denial of Welfare Fund Board benefits to NRKs and the dissolution of the Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS).

The Opposition alleged that various benefits provided to NRKs through NORKA and the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Board, including the pravasi pension, had been hit, and that the government decision to increase the premium on their insurance coverage has dealt a huge blow to the NRK community.

The LDF also alleged that the government had yet to put in place an effective alternative to the LKS.

After the adjournment motion was rejected, the LDF members staged a walkout in protest.

The Chief Minister said the government had taken steps to provide the benefits that are in arrears for the months of August, September and October. Mr. Satheesan blamed the issues on the sharp rise in the number of Welfare Fund beneficiaries and a “structural mistake” in the insurance scheme under NORKA Care and NORKA Care-Plus.

“The number of beneficiaries had risen from 17,771 in 2020-21 to 1,00,495 in 2026-27, a five-fold increase. The Kerala Pravasi Welfare Board had a meagre revenue. NRK contributions are in arrears to the tune of ₹200 crore,” the Chief Minister said.

In the case of the insurance scheme, the premium had to be increased as the insurance company had been reluctant to renew it, citing a loss, he said.