AI cancels flights to Italy, S. Korea, Kuwait

DGCA asks international airlines to consider waiving ticket cancellation fees amid coronavirus outbreak

Mumbai/New Delhi, March 13: Air India has cancelled flights to Italy, South Korea and Kuwait besides curtailing services to France, Germany, Spain, Israel and Sri Lanka till April 30, the airline said on Friday, amid mounting concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

An airline spokesperson gave the details while providing an update on its international operations.

“Air India has only curtailed services to France, Germany, Spain, Israel and Sri Lanka till April 30,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier, a senior official, who did not want to be named, said the carrier has decided to temporarily suspend services to Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Israel, South Korea and Sri Lanka due to the coronavirus outbreak.

On Wednesday, the government decided to suspend all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, from March 13 to April 15.

Meanwhile, aviation watchdog DGCA has asked international airlines to consider waiving ticket cancellation and reschedule charges or look at providing any other incentive, amid coronavirus outbreak. “In light of hardship faced by passengers, airlines may like to consider and take an appropriate call, accordingly,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a circular.

The circular, dated March 12, has been addressed to all scheduled international airlines operating to/from India.

“In the current scenario, it would be appropriate if airlines support their passenger in this tough time by waiving off cancellation/reschedule charges or by providing any other incentive,” it said.

A Lufthansa spokesperson said the group would be suspending some of its flights to Indian destinations “from March 14 to/ including March 16”.

“In the meantime, Lufthansa Group has extended its waiver policy that already offers customers extensive rebooking options for existing and future bookings,” the spokesperson said.

In a statement, a Vistara spokesperson said there is temporary capacity rationalisation in domestic as well as international network due to drop in demand. “We have waived off cancellation charges for all domestic tickets booked on or before March 1, 2020 and for all international tickets booked on or before March 12, 2020,” the spokesperson said.

In another development, the government extended the deadline for submitting bids to buy state-run Air India by about oneand-a-half months till April 30, citing demand from interested bidders (IBs) and situation arising out of coronavirus.

The government had on January 27 issued preliminary information memorandum (PIM) inviting EoI for sale of 100 per cent stake in Air India. The deadline for submitting bids was March 17.

The department of investment and public asset management in a notice also extended the deadline for release of queries on PIM till March 20 from March 16 earlier. Besides, qualified interested bidders will be intimated by May 14, the deadline for which was March 31 earlier.