The News Minute | August 28, 2014 | 09:00 am ISTScores of Gulf-settled Malayalees who will travel back to their place of work after spending the Onam holidays in Kerala will have to spend more moolah for their travel. Major airline companies operating in the Gulf region like the Emirates, Etihad and Air Arabia have hiked the air fare to over six times. Following suit even the low cost airline companies like the Indigo, Spice Jet, Air India Express, etc. have jacked the fares. A ticket in these low cost carriers has now been priced at Rs. 40,000. Travelers say that such an increase in this travel route was hitherto unseen. Travelers who are yet to book the tickets will be most affected. Expressing strong resentment over the fare hike, Chief Minister Oomen Chandy said that "the airline companies are creating an artificial demand for tickets by cutting down services and taking advantage of the Onam festival season." He said that the state’s protest in this regard will be conveyed to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. The Opposition Leader Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan has asked the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to intervene and address the issue. He reminded that it was the Keralites who contribute a lot to the foreign exchange reserve of the country and that they should not be exploited in this manner.