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
my dear hindu brother and sister dont blive in RSS they are not fighting for hindus they are fight to bring back the bristish rule bcoz they love thm bcoz they get everything wht they frm thm so they want thm back thz the reason they celebrate birth anniversry of killer our father of our nation tippu was curel for british and also for the people who support the british thtz y RSS says tht tippu is curel
India need another brave like Tipu sultan to eradicate RSS from the country.
RSS quotation itself proves that world has no matching personality like TIPPU for Nationalism and defence of country. For British - Tippu, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Ashfakullah Khan, Ghandiji, S.C. Bose... the list is endless.... all were Terrorists. It was Timid Savarkar and Hindutva fascists joined hands with British, worked against mother India and responsible for the massacre of thousands of Freedom Fighters of India. Till today these anti-national forces neither recognised Secular India, nor constitution, tricolour flag, national anthem.. rather they use all these to destroy Secular India. Founder of RSS openly said NOT TO FIGHT AGAINST BRITISH and advocated his goons to fight against Muslims. This is the history of RSS & British
Why siddana and his chelas want to celebrate this coward tippu jayanti.......hope siddana want to make karanataka islamic state by apeasing minority community.....!
This is what RSS is , RSS didn't want independence coz they had a close with British , British even killed Bhagat Singh , Raj guru and sukhdev as traitor but we Indians still treat them as freedom fighters , I think RSS treat them as cruel ????
Shame on u bloody RSS people , you guys have no rights to be in india h better go to ur British bhais.
Dear Cheddies (Now Pantees),
who brought Silk from Persia to India....how many farmers are living beacuse of silk in India...just think it....
I think Cheddis were hand to hand with British against whome nationalist were fighting during independence
Britishers know that because of tipu. India got independence.
To British, Mahatma Gandhi was a traitor & an enimy !
Every patriot was an enimy !
Nathuram Godse was a murderer ! Why should anyone need a lesson by those who celebrate Mahatma's killers jayanti??
Now RSS and British are Bhai Bhai (Brother's).
We got Independent on 1947 But for RSS Chaddis they lost their Freedom on 1947.Wa Re Wa Chaddis.
What if the Tipu was a Hindu. The tune of RSS would be different.
Apna cheddy nahi Sambhal sake. Abhi pant per uthargaye.
All Indians fully understand that the RSS was actively in support of the British, and did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to fight for India's independence from colonial rule. Its a known fact that USA has already enlisted RSS a terror group and has to be banned.
If he is cruel for british then of curse is hero for Indians.
If in front of RSS, Mahatma Gandhi is criminal, who else is good fro them.
RSS needs high level medical treatment. This is true not joke.
Whoever discussing any subject where RSS is involved, it is waste of time and finally it is stupidity to talk to them.
Just see what they did to Mahatma Gandhi and how they are glorifying his assassin Naturam Godse.
Unfortunately it is our unluck, still in India the majority of the people are their supporters therefore they were able to keep their puppet BJP in centre.
God, give them wisdom.
Who is British - Grand fathers of rss - they jointly involved in the cruel murder of our father of nation - GANDHI - they are the supporters for anti nationals and hindu terroristssss
British people considered all freedom fighters as cruel. Do you think all freedom fighters are cruel. in fact You guys are cruel. killed mahatma gandhi and other human beings in riots. RSS is following the foot step of Zionist, Nazism. they are deceiving people.
Oh yeah... Your savarkar / glovalkare was following British rules and they were feared of British rulers,. But Shahid Tippu was real tiger / hero of india / world. so british was too worried. Common man bloody RSS now wana prove based on British comments. hehehh.. shameless people. Being a tippu not a Savarkar
Yes ... This is the real face of the cheddis which was hidden for long time..the cheddis will follow their chachas (British) who want to rule over the people just like they used to rule over india and take all the resources and enjoy their life by making others to enslave them...
The hindus who think RSS is fighting for hindus is just a deception... U will surely see this in the near future...
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