With the standoff between protesting pilots and the Air India management showing no signs of easing, the government on Tuesday asked other airlines not to increase fares to exploit the situation and to accommodate passengers whose flights had been cancelled.

"I have asked them not to hike fares at this time, and also to accommodate those passengers whose flights were cancelled," Civil Aviation Secretary NM Nambiar told reporters here after meeting representatives of various airlines, including Air India chairman Arvind Jadhav.