DGCA curbs on ‘opaque fares’

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday directed airlines to withdraw a scheme under which travel portals offer discounted air tickets but do not show the carrier’s name till the payment is made.

The notice by DGCA chief E.K. Bharat Bhushan said “airlines are participating in a special fare offered by travel portals, namely ‘opaque fares’, where the identity of neither the carrier nor the flight details are revealed till payment is through and ticketing done.”

This, it said, violated provisions of the 1937 Aircraft Rules and other circulars relating to transparency in display of air fares.