Air travel to cost more in coming days: Patel

Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel says the increasing crude oil prices have definitely affected the aviation industry all over the world and India too cannot remain untouched.

Travelling by air would become more expensive, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Sunday.

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"The increasing crude oil prices have definitely affected the aviation industry all over the world and India too cannot remain untouched. Air fares in India are also bound to go up," Patel said in a function in Surat.

In 2004 cost of crude oil was $15 per barrel, but today it is more than $100 per barrel, he added.

"There won't be an immediate increase in air fares, but in the coming days air travel will become dearer," Patel said.

Commenting on the soaring prices of essential commodities he said "inflation was a global phenomena and his government is taking all the necessary measures to control it."

Patel said his ministry was planning some new flights for Surat.

"We may begin Surat-Mumbai, Surat-Kolkata and Surat-Bhavnagar service by October this year," Patel said.