With the haze over Europe forecast to stay for a few more days, there was some respite for fliers to the US and Canada from India, when Jet Airways and a few international carriers resumed operation on alternative routes. Air India announced it would resume flight operations to the US on alternative routes from Monday.
However, the operation of these flights also remains doubtful, as the haze is spreading over the whole of Europe.
“The US-bound are now opting for east coast. Emirates and Continental Airlines have left. By tomorrow, there should be some relief,” said Stic Travel Group Chairman Subash Goyal. Industry sources say the fares would be raised a little as the flights start operating after a few days of closure.
“Since the flights are operating after a gap, there has to be a demand-supply mismatch, which will push the fares up. But things will ease as flight operations in these regions become normal,” said Travel Agents Federation of India General Secretary Ajay Prakash.
The aviation regulator has, however, assured the fare is being monitored. “We are monitoring the fares to make sure the passengers are not charged beyond the fare,” said a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official who did not want to be identified. Jet Airways started operations to the US and Canada through Athens from Saturday night and Air India has received DGCA approval to operate flights to the US. A senior Air India official, who did not want to be identified, said: “We will operate flights through alternative routes and will also clear passenger backlogs, depending on availability of vacant seats.”
Kingfisher Airlines has indefinitely cancelled all its flights to and from London.
Among the three Indian carriers flying on international routes, only Air India and Jet Airways operate flights to the US and Canada.
