AIR FARES LEAVE RETURNING EXPATS ENRAGED
The Keralite expats on summer vacation in their state, who have faced the worstever flood of the century, has another nightmare now. Finding a ticket to return to their workplace in the UAE.
Exorbitant prices of air tickets from Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and the nearby airport of Mangalore (Karnataka), to the UAE have enraged expats, who are trying to find their way back to the UAE. One-way tickets are coming at Dh2,000 and above, many of the expats pointed out.
“A one-way ticket from Kozhikode to Dubai on SpiceJet on August 28 is priced at Dh2, 223. People have lost so much; we have faced such a massive natural calamity. The least airlines can do is not to increase prices in this manner. SpiceJet is a budget airline — the prices are too high,” said an upset Naveen Mangad, a Sharjah resident living in Kannur, Kerala. “We have been devastated by floods. How are we supposed to pay so high prices!” he asked.
Given that many residents missed their flights back to the UAE, or were not able to re-book them on time, they’re being forced to book new tickets. According to rates available on SkyScanner.ae, the prices of tickets from major Kerala airports and the nearby Mangalore airport starts at Dh1,200.
According to travel website Cleartrip.com, the price of one ticket from Kozhikode airport to Dubai on August 30 is Dh1,790. Meanwhile, the price from the same destination
on September 30 is Dh496. Other airlines operating from these sectors at the moment are Air India Express, SpiceJet, IndiGo and Oman Air. All airlines flying from Kozhikode to Dubai on August 28 are charging over Dh2,000 per one-way ticket.
UAE-based airlines had earlier announced that they have suspended flights to Kochi till August 26. According to an agent at Sharaf Travels in Dubai, there are no flights operating from Kochi till August 26. The agent told Khaleej Times: “The first available seat on economy cabin from Thiruvananthapuram is on September 6.” There are operational flights from Kozhikode on August 27-29 on SpiceJet, and a one-way ticket on August 27 is priced at Dh2,960. Prices reduce drastically after September 20, falling to Dh424 from the same destination.
One air ticket from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai is priced at Dh2,221 on Air India Express. Mohan Chandran, an engineer based in RAK with his home in Kozhikode, said: “This is the price on September 1. I can’t keep delaying my return to work. Besides, given the surge in prices from Kozhikode, and the state
of the roads, travelling to other parts of Kerala is impossible. Dh2,000 for one ticket is too much.”
The passengers agree that surge in pricing is common this time of the year, given the fact that people are returning from summer holidays. However, considering the flood situation, airlines should be sympathetic and provide some form of concession, said travellers.
According to a statement issued by Air India (AI) last week: “From the moment, operations were suspended at the Cochin airport, Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express swung into action and took the lead in announcing steps taken to help affected passengers through waiver of applicable penalties on re-issuance, date change, no-show, cancellation and refund charges for travel from/to Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram for both domestic and international flights.”
However, AI tickets continue to be priced above Dh1,000 per passenger. Khaleej Times tried to reach out to SpiceJet for comment over their social media channels. However, they did not respond.