Big rush to get to US, AI ups nonstops to pre-Covid level
People Fear US May Also Close Its Doors Like Many Others Countries
Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com
New Delhi:29.04.2021
Air India is soon going to operate almost as many nonstops to the US as it did in pre-pandemic times, thanks to a scramble to reach there for two main reasons.
Indians/NRIs/PIOs fear US may also close its doors for them like several others countries have done during the ongoing uncontrolled explosion of Covid cases and are rushing back. Secondly, they fear falling sick in India at a time when the healthcare system here has crumbled.AI is going to operate 32 weekly nonstops to the US by May 11, just one short of its prepandemic frequency of 33.
“India-US flights are going full (leading to high fares) with people scrambling to return. Most AI and United India-US flights till about mid-May are almost sold out,” said sources. Flights to India, on the other hand, have much lighter loads with 150-180 passengers, they added. The rush to US has seen fares jump with one-way economy India-New York often costing Rs 1.5 lakh.
Canada last Friday (April 23) suspended all passenger flights from India for 30 days. Following this, AI had to cancel all its flights to Vancouver and Toronto till May 22.
An AI spokesperson said: “Prior to discontinuation of our flights to Canada, we were operating 29 flights per week to US. We planned to increase the frequency to 30 and 32 per week from May 16 and May 18, respectively. After discontinuation of Canada flights… increase in frequency to 30 and 32 per week has been preponed to May 9 and May 11, respectively.”
International passenegers being taken for Covid test at the Chennai airport
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