The Congress party expressed deep concern regarding the escalating airfares and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that flying in airplanes is now accessible to those wearing 'hawai chappals' (slippers) as a "cruel joke." The government's recent call for airlines to establish a mechanism for reasonable airfares in the face of skyrocketing ticket prices, especially on routes formerly served by Go First, has prompted Congress to question if any interventions are planned to alleviate the burden on consumers.