Airfares for destinations in US from Chennai soar

Airfares for destinations in US from Chennai soar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.04.2021 

Airfares for trips from Chennai to destinations in the US have shot up to more than ₹2lakh to ₹3lakh for travel next month as there is a rush among people to travel fearing a complete suspension of flights.

Absence of direct flights from Chennai and a temporary ban on Indian travellers by major transit hubs like the United Kingdom, Canada, United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East are the reason for scramble for tickets and the consequent increase in fare. Return airfare is in the range of ₹2.60lakh to ₹3.35lakh from Chennai via the Middle East to the US for travel in the first week of May.

People who have to return to work, relatives and students are the category of people who are travelling to the US.

Rangarajan L N, who was scheduled to travel to San Francisco via Dubai on Sunday said " I was supposed to travel yesterday. But had to reschedule and book from Delhi. The air fare via Dubai was ₹80,000 but now I am paying ₹1.10lakh. I do not want to wait and travel next month because the countries in the Middle East may extend the temporary ban for Indians to travel." He is worried to travel via Delhi where cases are increasing.

A majority of the passengers, especially relatives of those in the US, prefer to fly via the Middle East because it's hassle-free than flying domestic to Delhi or Mumbai and then switching to the international flight.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said : "The fare is high because people want to travel before all airlines stop flights. Many people who were trying to fly via Dubai are affected because of the temporary suspension of allowing Indian passengers to the UAE. Other Gulf countries like Kuwait and Oman too have stopped the arrival of Indian nationals. There is a worry that this may be extended because cases are increasing here. Air India is the only option from Delhi as United Airlines too have suspended carrying passengers from Delhi.`` In the absence of flights, passengers are also looking at different options to fly.

Arul Lazaran of United Travels said that "People who need to travel are willing to spend and also find ways to reach the US. A few are flying via Nepal. They spend time there in quarantine and then fly to Dubai and then further to the US."