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
Lets put it in a nut shell Khader is the only problem rest everything no problem if Khader is inspired by some false clergy let him keep it personal and not inflict on people. ullal is a place they don't want any organizations interfering they want be on their own, Khader has lost the battle last time in the juma case. he has a good platform to strengthen the party because on one side Rasheed is a congressman and in the other side mustafa is a congressman instead of taking advantage he is supporting a false clergy and causing all the nuisance in ullal .
when members of SSF wants a roudyshitter .Bhuhari wants to be a president of ullal dargha .. imagine of thier thinking is to Grasp power at any cost, Not worried which background he is from.. obviously people of ullal has to against it.. I think UT khader also should have done basic research before he could interfere & favor one side.. criminal entering politices is a common that everyone accepts without any choice.... but in Mosque Committe person with criminal background will never accept at any cost which lead to the situation getting worse.... shame at religious leader & Polictian who support such president.. SHAME on THEM...
Shaffiq,
In 1992, Did Allah have no power to protect Babri Masjid ???
Why did you not question the power of Allah then???
What happened to ullala Wali , he has got numerous karamath .why now he can't solve this problem. It's very easy . Ask Wali and he will say who will be the next president
koora and SSF's Dirty Game
Oh, wahabbis, don't act like the reformers of the society. Ask your gurus in Kerala to stop fighting in the name of Jinn Tawheed. Did you forget your own people fought in the dais (stage) for Jinn Tawheed? Don't you feel ashamed of talking about Sunni groups when you people were divided into more than 8 groups in the name of tawheed, whereas both sunni groups have same belief in Tawheed.
Seeking the help of Jinn is tawheed, whereas seeking the help of Auliyas is shirk. Oh wahabbis where are you people leading to ?
Babri masjid was demolished in 1992. Does it mean that no power for Allah ? So, commentators and Article Headline by ..., never to try to boil your seed by degrading the power of miracle of Auliyas.
Insha Allah, Truth will prevail soon and SK goondas will be going to suffer soon for their heinous act.
I think better to leave this Issue to the Saint to decide thru Karamath. I hope AP & EK both will agree for this to maintain peace in the society.
Only one reason for The fight Is karodepati ones if anyone get president seat in dargah he will be the richest person in ullal full bakwas jiyo aur jeenedo yaaro
There is no difference between dargah and temple. Both make pooja by offering flower etc. Both make jathre(Uroos). Both make nerche (Harake). In islam no where taught like this. They make all this only for money.
SAUDIS say worship the one LORD ALLAH, who created U, Me and all that exists & follow prophet Muhammad pbuh.
IRAN says worship ALLAH, Follow prophet muhammad, Ask with ALI & they also ask with the imaams in the Graves and they have lot of SHRINE worship expecting BARAKAH from the auliyas. which they never said to do such worship for barakah.
NOW TELL ME which ways YOU guys are following... IRAN or SAUDI?
When our IMAAN in ALLAH becomes WEAK, not maintaining SABR & we tend to go & ask with the Creations of ALLAH... which is very dangerous to our FAITH. And our enemies deceive us very EASILY.
I request people to DEPEND on ALLAH alone. Every example on our life have to be cleared by Prophet Muhammad pbuh. he also said even if it is small issues, ASK with ALLAH alone.... ALLAH gives barakah when you really rely on HIM. He knows what is in your hearts .. without patience, some guys are going and following the shia style of worship
We should EXPECT such inner clash when leaders of our community Never encourage to ASK with ALLAH ALONE and are SILENCE and never try to UNITE our UMMAH ... instead dividing each other in the name of GROUP ideology.
DEAR MUSLIMS - READ QURAN with understanding, ALLAH guides those who look for his QURAN, understand it, ponder it... The more U ponder, the more U will depend on ALLAH. NO need for any intermediate. U will praise the auliyas of ALLAH & follow the ways they taught us and will never ask with them but U will only depend on ALLAH for your requirement & Barakah.
May ALLAH guide us all ..
Kotian,
How your religion is to be peaceful when you teach your crew to kill innocent no Hindus?
I also agree that most of the Indian Hindus likes peace but not your organisation.
whats going on, fighting with own people this must be stopped immediately, it makes our rival to go out strong.
this dargha authority should be hand over to the karnataka govt, i request CM Siddaramaih to undertake this dargha's authority,
UT Khader must take all the decision. why this people simply fighting for power, whoever capable of using the power he will get,
Brother Anti-Wahabi
A humble request please read the article again. Nowhere its mentioned \AND NOT FOR REAL MIRACLE\" Well learn to accept the TRUTH.
My personal suggestion this time hand over the Management to SALAFI'S and see the changes.."
Yellare Mane dose thoothe, nangle ningle yella ondume
this is not new.. clash was going on before also but easily they will not leak their secrete outside as we do. true face of religious places in all religion its same. dont die live longer.
why simply clashing for power, this people wont take anything while dying, till death do some good work instead of clashing with each other
Miracle is there in the Quran not in any idol or dargah... Better if people understand it for their success in this duniya and hereafter..
Here I saw many non muslim brothers confused with Sunni, AK, EK and so on.. Worshiping dargah is not at all Islamic.. Worship only ONE God. thats real Islam.. Regulate 5 times salah, Give zakaath/ sadqa, help each other to live peacefully and let other creations of Allah live peacefully.. Make this life worth living.. Thats what Islam teaches and Quran teaches and history teaches us..
There are some exceptions - some ignorant people dont want to understand this and always blaming Islam is their habbit whenever commenting.. Thats without proper knowledge of Islam. May Allah give hidaya to all of us..Ameen
This article is written by a pakka wahhabi girl with the only intention of creating Fitna. In the first para itself the writer is saying that the Darga was famous for \stories of miracles\" and not for real miracles. Strange that coastaldigest.com publishing these kinds of extremist Wahhabist articles these days without examining it. I am a big fan of CD since its launch. hope it will realise its mistakes and avoid unnecessary crtisicm of the groups of aalims."
Viren Anna irr dane Mulu...Chaddi budyaara.
Shiya Sunni clash reached Mangalore too? this is really shocking. now bomb blasts also may start in karnataka like arab nations.
What is Sunni group?
What is AP?
What is EK?
Can someone please explain us. story is anyhow interesting.
The history of Muslims is full of violence. This is the good opportunity for Muslims to renounce their violent faith and embrace Hinduism the true religion of peace, and leader a dignified life instead of fighting in the name of AP, EK, PK, TK
Very sad. Ignorance at its peak.
Fooling ignorant people by any so called masjid management or by any greedy imaams is not at all appreciable. Either imaams of the Masjid or the management committee of the masjid should ENLIGHTEN the people on the basis of teachings of HOLY QURA'N and SUNNAH.
Why not leave shirk as Allah has ordered in his book.
Masjid is house of Allah which are to be 24x7 active with prayers, education and community development activities. No need of Dargas which is supporting shirk. Oneness of Allah, Tawheed is our requirement.
Community should not waste time and energy in fighting for unnecessary reasons.
We heard of Battle of Badr,Battle of Uhud,Battle of Khandaq all for the sake of LA ILAHA ILLALLAH. But Yesterday Battle of Ullal is some thing unique Battle of Power.Great...its one of the sign of KIYAAMATH.
Beware The final Day is very close. Get ready and be prepared for Life after Death.
It is not EK vs AP as mentioned but it is AP group vs rest.
In Ullal there are total 49 committee member elected of which 27 supports Rashid Haji means Rashid Haji has clear majority for Presidency.
And about President selected by Kazi Khoora Thangal and SSF is Bukhari who dont have the majority but also people know what his background is.
SSF people lost the election instead of handing over the power they forwarding a rowdy sheeter as president to create terror in Ullal for that one of Minister from region supporting SSF by sending Waqf officer to lock the Darga.
Instead of doing all this let all member sit together elect the President who has the majority
Now or before thier is no miracles Ullal foolising people by deviled power and political. Power it's shows now.may allha gave Hidayath
Ameen
Nor was any miracles before or now everything was from allah but shaitan decieved them by making them believe it was from the dead saint syed madani.
Poor thinking n following the footsteps of shaitan always ends in greediness which leads to destruction.
never there was miracles. only blind faith. Ya Allah give them Hidayat
hahaha.. this is hilarious headline. article is balances. very much timely. appreciate this impartial analysis by CD. keep it up. dont care anyone.
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