The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe has thrown movement of lakhs of travelers off gear. This has not only impacted pleasure trips of tourists but also business travel resulting in monetary losses worth millions.
In wake of numerous advisories against travel, the travel industry, particularly the aviation sector, has also get badly impacted. Not only traffic on their once popular routes have plummeted but several have to cancel flights to destinations in China and few other South and East Asian countries to prevent becoming carrier of the contagious virus.
According to MakeMyTrip flight bookings for Southeast Asian countries have been significantly impacted but sectors in But US and Europe are only seeing a marginal dip.
More than 95,000 people in 86 countries have been infected with the virus and more than 3,200 people have died. In India so far 31 persons have tested positive for the virus.
So the situation across the globe remains grim with only positives coming from China where fresh infections of COVID-19 has reduced. But does that make travel safer? And what if you still need to travel...are there enough flights available or whether the ticket you procured protects against any unforeseen cancellations?
Here is the situation as it exists :
International flights by domestic carriers:
*Air India and Indigo that run long haul flights have cancelled their flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai and the restrictions may well run into June
*SpicejJet has cancelled Delhi Hong Kong flights till March 28
*Vistara Airlines has cancelled around 54 flights to and from Bangkok and Singapore.
*GoAir suspends flight operations to Dammam, Saudi Arabia after an advisory issued by the Saudi government to not allow non-Saudi residents to enter. It has also suspended flights to Thailand
International flights by global airlines:
*Almost all major airlines operating out of India have suspended flights to China, Korea, Iran, Italy and some to Japan.
*European and American connections provide by airlines such as Lufthansa, KLM, United Airlines from India continues
*JAL is still operating its service to Japan from India
*United, Air Canada, JetBlue, Alaska, American Airlines, Delta, Brutus Airways have suspended flights to China and reduced operations in countries with high Coronavirus infections such as Italy
Domestic airlines:
There have been no restrictions on domestic travel, so far.
What advisories have been issued by authorities that can affect your travel plan :
*From March 9 midnight all air travellers having visited or arriving from Italy and South Korea will require to submit a certificate of having tested nagative from health authorities -designated lab in their countries for Coronavirus at the departure.
*India has also suspended most visas issued to nationals of Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran and China, as well as suspending visas of any travellers who had been to those five countries since February.
*It has now been decided that all incoming international passengers must declare their travel history to health and immigrations officials at India's airports.
*Arrivals from DGCA list of 12 countries undergo thermal screening, passengers with high temperature taken to quantantine
*Screening to be carried out at 21 airports across the country
*Regular (sticker) visa/e-visa granted to nationals of People's Republic of China, issued on or before February 5, 2020 were suspended earlier. It shall remain in force.
*Those needing to travel to India under compelling circumstances may apply for fresh visa to the nearest Indian Embassy/Consulate," the advisory said.
*An advisory had also directed passengers arriving directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan to undergo medical screening at the port of entry
Travel Insurance :
*All Indian carriers are offering full refund or bookings to alternate destinations for flights that were booked earlier but are getting cancelled due Coronavirus scare.
*GoAir stated that people have the option of availing a full refund or utilising the booking amount for any future travel with the airline.
*In a travel advisory, Emirates has stated that those wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia will have to contact the Emirates office or their travel agent for refunds.
*Others travellers having expensive insurance cover may get full refunds by the insurance companies if they have included everything under coverage.
*But a larger number of insurers do not provide travel insurance against any pandemics outright. Moreover, any travel plan made now may not get covered for can cancellations due to Coronavirus.
Sources in the special team of the SID handling the investigation ordered by the Maharashtra government said: “There is no case to be made out against the English-speaking preacher, except maybe the possible charge of hurting religious sentiments, but even that cannot be established from his speeches.”
Comments
Alhamdulillah.
Brother Naren And Viren
We can understand your Frustration.What to do Barking Dogs never bites like Our beloved GO SWAMI.
Try to learn about ISLAM before its too late...so that you can secure you life after Death.
Alhumdulillah Allah is great. Allah knows better how to protect his people and Religion.
Naik given clean shit ?
Chaddi logonko mirchi lage tho hum kya Kare Sanghi chaddi RSS medias were hiding now uriyuttada burnol hachi.........
allahu akbar
Karen and Viren.....dont watch much versions of zakir Naik.....ull change too........you better keep barking so we can have some time pass in CD... every morning.....
Allah is with the true person.....and now need to see what the barking media says.......
Allahu Akbar, After checking all his videos there may be chances of police department convert to Islam.
Naren must be happy in Singapore...... or losing night sleep..... Now this GOO ( human shit ) SAMI should be arrested for defaming innocent Dr Zakir Naik...... Naren wish you happy eid.....
Viren,
Even if the intelligence arrest him. What can they do...
They can deceive People like U to hate more
But Majority of them got what Zakir is preaching to reach the one GOD ...
Dont stay away from ONE GOD who created YOU , ME and all that exists .. U will be a loser in the end.
Learn who is WORTHY Of WORSHIP also NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI . it will stop hating others
AL HAMDULILLAH, Viren dont bark study islam from zakir dont go by on line, on line may you will get wrong information from Chaddi yahoodi jewish trying to bring bad name to islam, one thing who ever try to bring bad name to islam or hate islam ISLAM IS ISLAM god will defend no one can stop it, terrorism is Jewish culture islam will not support terrorism,
Hahaha. Maharashtra intelligence department is very shrewd. It knows how to trap thieves. Now it will say it cannot arrest. Once he comes to indian, then he will spend rest of his life in prison like abdul naser madani..
Alhamdulillah, Truth always wins. No matter Arnab or any other haters try to malign him.I think IRF should file a case against Times now and Arnab Go swami now, Its time to ban Times Now.
Most of the media is not publishing this news.All the haters of Dr. Naik please apply some Burnol to your A** so that you will get some relief.
Being an hindu. I have gone through many clips. But media showed only half truth. Which is dangerous. Dr naik only wanted hindu and muslims unite and love other. If this is wrong. Then i hate rss vhp...
They opened their own grave by bringing dr naik issue.
Al Hamdulillah....Allahu Akbar
Al Hamdulillah.. Allah is great.. Remember chelas and chaddis.. Dr. Zakir Naik has prayers from All Over the world Muslims.. In Sha Allah he will win because he preaches only n ONLY PEACE.. May Allah give him Afiyath.. Ameen..
Dear State Intteligence Dept. ,(Maharastra)
Please share your Investigation Report with Mr. Arnab Go-Bar Swami, Atleast we can Expect some wise sound from him rather than spiting venom in media.& Mr. Arnab Go-Bar Swami please get well soon.
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