New Delhi, May 22: Rajya Sabha MP Vivek K. Tankha has urged the Union Government to urgently address the sharp rise in airfares on India–UAE and Gulf routes, warning that escalating ticket prices are severely impacting millions of Indian migrant workers and their families.

In a letter dated May 22, 2026, addressed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Tankha highlighted that over one crore Indians working across Gulf countries are facing an unprecedented rise in travel costs.
He noted that airfare on these routes has more than doubled in recent months, making it increasingly unaffordable for middle-class workers to travel home during the annual summer period. Many employers in Gulf countries provide a fixed travel allowance of around AED 1,000, which earlier helped offset airfare costs but now falls significantly short due to the price surge.
Tankha stressed that the issue is not merely economic but deeply personal, as it affects family reunions and long-term emotional well-being. He pointed out that many migrant families are now unable to meet annually, with children growing up separated from parents working abroad.
Calling for immediate intervention, the MP urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to review fare structures on India–Gulf routes and explore measures such as increased flight frequency, improved budget airline connectivity, and possible seasonal subsidisation during the peak travel months from June to August.
He also suggested that the Ministry of External Affairs verify the situation through Indian missions in Gulf countries and coordinate a policy response to ease the burden on migrant workers.
The appeal highlights growing concerns over airfare inflation on key international routes and its wider social impact on India’s diaspora communities.