Air India reinstates discount

Move on repatriation of bodies comes after protest by community

Air India yesterday reinstated discounts on the repatriation of dead bodies from the UAE to India, a move welcomed by Indians who had vehemently protested against the recent cancellation of the discounts.

Senior officials told Gulf News that Air India had revoked its decision to cancel the 50 per cent discount on the cargo fee for transporting human remains from the UAE, and to stop free repatriation of mortal remains in the case of needy Indians.

The decision that had resulted in the doubling of cargo fares for sending mortal remains of the Indian expats via the national carrier and its lowcost wing Air India Express from September 19 has been scrapped with immediate effect, officials said.

Air India’s UAE officials confirmed that the airline has decided to withdraw the decision that had been met with widespread protest from Indian community members, social workers and community organisations.

“We are going to maintain the status quo,” said a senior official.

Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul said the consulate has also been informed about Air India’s decision.

“We have been informed by Air India that they will continue to offer the 50 per cent discount in the case of repatriation of mortal remains of [all] Indian expats and the free of cost service [on freight charges] when the consulate recommends it [in the case of needy Indians],” he said. “We are happy about the decision as several people had raised concerns about this move. We are happy that Air India addressed it quickly.”

Community members had also raised the issue with India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh during his community meeting at the Indian Consulate in Dubai on Saturday. The minister had assured that he would take it up with the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Community reaction

Anwar Naha, president of Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, who took up the issue during the minister’s meeting, welcomed the move but said: “Our primary demands remain the same — stopping the method of calculating the cargo fare by weighing the dead bodies and cancellation of all the charges for transporting human remains,” he said.

Social worker Ashraf Thamarassery, who has been campaigning for the same, said: “It’s good that they withdrew the decision, though I wasn’t convinced that there existed a 50 per cent discount earlier.”