Flying home to Chennai from Middle East set to get easier

INT’L, PVT AIRLINES BEGIN OPERATIONS

Flying home to Chennai from Middle East set to get easier

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  14.07.2020

Flying home to Chennai is going to be easier for those stranded in the Middle East as foreign airlines and private carriers from India have started to operate flights to Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai and Delhi in addition to flights operated by Air India. The airlines are expected to release schedules to Chennai and Trichy soon after getting permission from the state government this week.

Emirates, Etihad, IndiGo and Vistara have announced more flights to India.

These flights have been scheduled from mid-July as the Union government has decided to allow them to take part in evacuation of stranded Indians in the Middle East following criticism from UAE and other countries that only Air India was being allowed under the Vande Bharat Mission.

Though there is a delay in scheduling of direct flights to Chennai, there are flights to other Indian cities and also to Trichy. This is expected to offer more choice of flights for people who want to return.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said that “People stranded in Dubai and other cities there can now travel because entry of Emirates will give them more options. The number of flights operated by Air India was not enough. Now, travellers can land in Kochi, Mumbai or Delhi and travel to Chennai till direct flights are introduced.” These airports allow international passengers who land there to continue onward trips by domestic flights.

“The state government was hesitating to give permission as almost two flights land at Chennai airport every day with stranded passengers from different countries,” he added.

A few flights by foreign carriers from the Middle East planned for July 14 and 156 had to be cancelled because the government did not give permission because they needed to arrange centres for institutional quarantine for passengers arriving from abroad. Additional flights will be of help as many were not able to secure seats on Air India flights.

Basheer Ahmed said, “Direct flights from Dubai and other cities in the Middle East to Chennai will also help people who have resident and permanent visa. There are more than 100people who are ready to travel to the UAE alone. They do not prefer to travel to Mumbai or Delhi to fly out because they are worried about tests and quarantine rules.”

Finding tickets on flights from the Middle East to India and on flights from India to the Middle East is now easy because the Union government has also allowed all travel agents to book tickets. Passengers could use only the Air India website to book tickets for Vande Bharat flights.