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.
Udupi, Jan 24: A hilarious speech delivered by Congress leader CM Ibrahim during the recent biennial Paryaya festival in which the 85-year-old Pejawar mutt seer Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swami ascended the Paryaya Peetha in Udupi has gone viral on social media, prompting the former’s fans and political rivals to engage in a debate.
Comments
C.M. Ibrahim..unfit to be a Muslim
Hey guys!
Don't you have anything else to do? Commenting and issuing Fatwa on each and every silly things?!!! CMI is a politician who will yell anything that yield him political mileage. And for preaching, this is not a platform for it either. May be you were not aware that the famous Lulu's Yousuf Ali donated to Viswa Hindu Parishad's International Conference in London recently.
Navoodu Billah, even we cant say Nabi Sws as god, we can only say fi Naari jahanam
No wonder if cm calls pejavara as god he has different gods everywhere ,he bow AP ustad too while AP followers say Allah Akbar to AP ..which is big shirk?
I think there is third 'walking god' which mr.ibarhim forgot to mention in his speech mr, kantapuram musliyar. Mr, ibrahim is really a lucky person for getting 'holy trinity'.!!!!
\CM\" Go adress the function but do not SALE your faith in cheap rate."
Fee nari jahannum.....
Ibrahim Lost his mind
All those who commented here failed to realize the greatest \Hikmah\" hidden behind CM Ibrahim's statement. He is just following the model of our greatest prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s), who had stated that moon is god and son is god. His intention was to convince the Mushrik that they are not gods.
Similarly when those two walking gods leave this world, our CM ibrahim will go to Udupi and say: \"See all are dead. the one who is alive and will be alive forever is the only true god\"...
hahaha.. am kidding."
Dear all,
I am Not supporter of any politician........
He said that GOD, Please do Understand he did not call him \ALLAH\", When COW can become GOD Mother, why can't be Mr. Seer be a God, after all their are 33 crores of GODS.
Why should we give give importance , as called him a GOD, Let them add another GOD in the list, as RECOMMENDED BY Mr. IBRAHIM"
C. M. Ebrahim now in ATTH BITTH
Nahoodu Billhah.
Is he a real Muslim or Name sake Muslim.I really Wonder,Even Hindus do not believe pejavar sree as GOD.Nor pejavara Sree Quoted himself as a GOD.In one of his interview i heared C.M Ibrahim introduced H.D Devegavda as MANEDEVAARU.I really dont understand Why he is giving GOD'S Status to the Human being.
I know Muslims do not entertain or believe in such policies...
I do remember this CM Ibrahim's 20 year old speech in Bengaluru. He was addressing a muslim gathering. Here are the excerpts:
\Ee CM Ibrahim 100% Musalmaan. Jafar Sharif haage 50% Musalmaan alla naanu. Ee kade Maseedigu hogtare aa kade devastaanakkoo hogatare namma 'kaafar' sharif\".... Naanu eega thaane hajj maadi bandiddene\"....
And now what the hell he is saying?"
confession of hypocrisy.
First of all he does not know the main message of Islam which is oneness of God. (even if he knows it, still does not know the seriousness of God).
Ulema the scholars say 1 third of Quran(almost 200pages OR 10Parts of Quran) is only about oneness of God.
This is the key of Islam. Unless a person knows it(Oneness of God), he can not go forward to learn Islam.
Islam is based on this oneness. So, Islam does not allow for associating anything with the God. Even the Gods special qualities can also be not seen in others.
Even a negligible minute portion can not be equated to that one and only God, who controls the entire universe.
Even we can not say our mother, father also to the level of God.
It is the duty of every Muslim not to make such mistakes of equating anything with the God. This is called as Shirk associating someone with the God.
May Allah forgive our mistakes, help us to learn the fact and share with others.
What about Devegowda ? he made him party president, union minister. May Allah guide him to right path.
Why only two gods? Include Kalladka Bhat and make it three gods! Perfect Trinity
He is already Durga Poojary, it is no surprise that he says whoever God. Thee are some more big so called leaders smilar to Mr. Ibrahim's category who prays and also becoming President of Uroos etc. Even one of our Vice Chancellor also in his grade.
All these people are giving wrong signal to others about our religious.
It is welcome to go and speak at Swamys's presence but not in this level.
Marle..
La haula wala quvvata illa billah....
This fellow went to Kerala and declared AP Ustad as greatest auliya allah
Now went to Udupi and declared pejawar seer as god..
Now tell me who is great- auliya or god?
If Pejawar seer is god, who is his messenger? CM Ibrahim himself?
When U depend on Gori rituals it will take you to this height.. Graves are not for asking prayers. it is to reminds us muslims to recognise the blessing of ALLAH and our fate to end up in the graves. When we make the Graves our protector. The end result will take YOU to such steps which doesnt recognise the TRUE creator even after praying and making zikr hundreds of times...
If U ask, Ask ALLAH alone and trust him. Never depend on something which prophet muhammd pbuh never taught us. ALLAH is our protector - No need any intermedite to reach our creator. AL -hamdullillah.
The photo is very suitable for this report. CM Ibrahim raising his finger and reciting Kalima shahadah... \Ash-hadu Pejawar swami bla bla bla...\""
Yes Yes... Pejawar seer is god for saabis like CM Ibrahim.. Not for Hindus, for whom he is just a great swamji.. We are upper religion. our relgion's seers are their religion's gods... ahahaha
To Fathima, Dubai. Your statement is wrong. How you agree two god. Do you have sense. If you think like that, you done shirk. So make thouba and pray almighty Allah for your wrong statement.
He is an opportunists!
Baqoul shayer (about politicians )
Unka kiya hai ?
Wo to apne baap bhi badaltey hai !
This is the sign of Jaahil!
Ok Ok. Karnataka has two gods.. agree.. Now tell me Kerala has how many gods??? Only one?
If he belives there if God other than Allah , He is no more Muslim.
If he Belive There is God other thean Allah , He is no more
There no GOD but ALLAH.. and QURAN challenges the creation to VERIFY what is said in the QURAN to prove false... If U dare please TRY.
ALLAH says in QURAN : Say \ If the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like of this QURAN, they could NOT produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another\" - QUran 17:88
And if YOU are in doubt concerning that which WE have sent down (The QURAN) to our slave (Muhammad pbuh) then produce a surah(chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides ALLAH. if YOU are TRUTHFUL - Quran 2:23
Worship the CREATOR not his CREATION."
SSF's spokes person. lol
There is no GOD but ALLAH & Muhammd pbuh is last and final messenger of GOD who came after prophets like Jesus, moses, abraham, noah and Adam and several other messenger that ALLAH has sent to the people who worshiped the man made Gods and idols. Their only concern was people should worship the CREATOR who created us all. & not fall TRAP to the so called gods which is man made...
CM ibrahim is showing and strengthening u to the path of FALSEHOOD which he himself need to answer to the one who gave us Soul.
Dear HINDU brothers ... Look for QURAN , u will be cleared of who is GOD and Who are the agents of Devil which is also a creation of God.
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