Dubai, May 5: Tickets on repatriation flights from UAE to India, which start on May 7, could be costlier than regular airfare, and adding to the financial woes of those flying back. Nearly 200,000 Indians in the UAE have registered on the website seeking to return home.
“A one-way repatriation ticket to Delhi will cost approximately Dh1,400-Dh1,650 - this would earlier have cost between Dh600-Dh700 [during these months],” said Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel. “A one-way repatriation flight ticket to Kerala would cost approximately Dh1,900-Dh2,300.”
This can be quite a burden, as a majority of those taking these flights have either lost their jobs or are sending back their families because of uncertainty on the work front. To now have to pay airfare that is nearly on par with those during peak summer months is quite a blow.
Sources said that officials in Indian diplomatic missions have already initiated calls to some expats, telling them about likely ticket fares and enquiring about their willingness to travel.
Although many believed repatriation would be government-sponsored, Indian authorities have clarified that customers would have to pay for the tickets themselves. Those who thought they were entitled to free repatriation might back out of travel plans for now.
Fact of life
But aviation and travel industry sources say higher rates cannot be escaped since social distancing norms have to be strictly enforced at all times. That would limit the number of passengers on each of these flights.
“One airline can carry only limited passengers - therefore, multiple airlines are likely to get the approval to operate repatriation flights,” said Abdulnazar. “Also, airports will have to maintain safe distance for passengers to queue up at immigration and security counters.
“Therefore, it is recommended that multiple carriers fly into multiple Indian airports for repatriation to be expedited.”
The Indian authorities, so far, have not taken the easy decision to get its private domestic airlines into the rescue act. Gulf News tried speaking to the leading players, but they declined to provide any official statements. So far, only Air India, the national airline, has been commissioned to operate the flights.
Air India finds itself in the driver's seat when it comes to operating India's repatriation flights. To date, there is no confirmation India's private airlines will be allowed to join in.
UAE carriers ready to help out
UAE’s Emirates airline, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia are likely to also operate repatriation flights to India after Air India implements the first phase of services.
“We are fully supporting governments and authorities across the flydubai network with their repatriation efforts, helping them to make arrangements for their citizens to return home,” said a flydubai spokesperson.
“We will announce repatriation flights as and when they are confirmed, recognising this is an evolving situation whilst the flight restrictions remain in place.”
An AirArabia spokesperson said the airline is ready to operate repatriation flights when the government tells them to.
Travel agencies likely to benefit
Apart from operating non-scheduled commercial flights, the Indian government is also deploying naval ships to bring expat Indians back. Sources claim the ships are to ferry passengers who cannot afford the repatriation airfares.
Even then, considering the sheer numbers who will want to get on the flights, travel agencies are likely to see a surge in bookings since airline websites alone may not cope with the demand set off in such a short span.
Learn from Gulf governments
In instances when they carried out their own repatriation flights, some GCC governments paid the ticket fares to fly in their citizens. Those citizens who did not have the ready funds could approach their diplomatic mission and aid would be given on a case-to-case basis.
Should Indians wait for normal services to resume?
Industry sources say that those Indians wanting to fly back and cannot afford the repatriation flights should wait for full services to resume once the COVID-19 pandemic settles.
But can those who lost their jobs or seen steep salary cuts stay on without adding to their costs? And is there any guarantee that when flight services resume, ticket rates would be lower than on the repatriation trips.
As such, normal travel is expected to pick up only after the repatriation exercise to several countries is completed. UAE-based travel agencies are not seeing any bookings for summer, which is traditionally the peak holiday season.
“Majority want to stay put unless full confidence is restored,” said Abdulnazar. “I expect full normalcy to be restored not until March 2021.
“People have also taken a hit to their income. Without disposable income, you will curtail your travel.”
What constitutes normalcy?
Airfares are expected to remain high, given the need to keep the middle seats empty to practise safe distance onboard.
“We expect holiday travel to resume by October or November - but, the travel sentiment will not go back to pre-COVID-19 levels anytime soon,” said Manvendra Roy, Vice-President – Commercial at holidayme, an online travel agency. “The need to keep the middle seat vacant will add 30-40 per cent pricing pressure per seat from an airline perspective.
“This will make holidays more expensive.”
As for business travel, it will take some time to recover. Corporate staff are now used to getting work done via conference calls. “Companies will also curtail their travel expenditure since their income has taken a hit,” said Abdulnazar.
Comments
i think Rahim Uchil is also on this dias and gave a speech supporting Nalin. Rahim will be next bjp mp. Is Rahim going to change his religion to save himself from the goondas of sangh parivar.
MP apina yogyete unda? Backlash malpavunait usshaar. Kelavu koditt malpader. Anda, Dever na backlash mokleg artha apuji.
whatever ...he will continue to win everytime he stands ... papa frustration nodree ... modle note ban mirchi ittange aagide ivakke ... next benami baratte , jothege zakir naik na mele multiple raids ... totall jihadi terrorism infrastructure collapsed for time being ... hawala ,hundi ge bidda hodetha dinda kundi ge kempu menasina kaayi ittida haage agide ... alvenree faizhal bhai....faizal bhai banree ,, johny walker kalsana ... athava ice cube kalsana ... swalpa ice cube mele kootu kolree ... hahaha
What about your team of 30 members who killed young Poojary in the mid of the road ???? why don't you talk ??? what about your team who killed Harish , innocent boy who was riding bike along with him muslim friend ???
Our sisters were raped and killed in Dharmastala and elsewhere why don't you protect for that poor death?
Awu ninna kannug thojujjja.. He is communal goonda not MP.
Try to make people together not to break??
Whoever attack or killed he should get severe punishment regardless of cast and community.
What about your team of 30 members who killed young Poojary in the mid of the road ???? why don't you talk ??? what about your team who killed Harish , innocent boy who was riding bike along with him muslim friend ???
Our sisters were raped and killed in Dharmastala and elsewhere why don't you protect for that poor death?
Awu ninna kannug thojujjja.. He is communal goonda not MP.
Try to make people together not to break??
Whoever attack or killed he should get severe punishment regardless of cast and community.
Hahahah..
Ulta chor kothwal ku daante!!!!
is he MP or goonda???? shame on such MPs....... no wonder he has proved that communal violence is created by his so called jumla party.....he must be arrested n thrown to bellary jail for threatening openly,,,,,,,
Totally rss want to do unrest in Karnataka. The elected representative from Mangalore don't know the value of Indian Constitution nor he know the meaning and responsibility of MP. Such a low grade fellow with worst attitude. His duty is to maintain law and order and to take care of the citizen l/o that he is with anti nations terror group. And threatening
to do bloodshed.
Seems his days r near.
Its shame for all those who voted Mr.Kateel, the MP who does not know even how to speak and the responsibility being an MP.
where is raheem uchil? he is missing??
Its time to wake up......you already deposited your money ...now barking ......poya ninna bandawal eethene......Pak flag hoisting...Go Kalla saganike ...Manipal Rape....Henda.....Gambling ...Pan......evishtu Bajrangdal amthhu chaddigala hanebaraha....saku nataka ....samanya janarannu maralu maduvudu nillisu
Please confirm retaliation on whom please clarify Mr kateel n group.
Why the district police dept kept quite on such terror groups and with their third rate leaders.
Hope state govt will take action on nalin. Elected people's representative's duty is to maintain law and order i/o that acting against the constitution is a Desh Drohi he is a terrorist.
This is the right time to take action on such criminals if not public mud stand together and retaliate.
Jai HIND!
lol... poor patient hindus sitting and watching leaders drama...
I think , nowadays , these leaders are not getting , as much support as they required....
nimage asttu desha bakthi iddre.. namm deshada gadi kaeeeri... illa andre yetto badwaru nam deshadalli ondu hottu outa illade saeeta iddare awarannu addru kapadi.. e reeti bogali yenu prayojane illa..
what abt attack on others? who will b responsible ?
People elected you as MP not to stage protest over unnecessary issue. Go to parliament and bring our 15 lack.
I think only Mangalorean cheddis never understand cheddi deception ???????
Jai sri ram .. He is right ...
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