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New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
DGCA urges airlines to add flights, not hike fares to help stranded tourists from Srinagar
NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday urged all airlines to take swift action to increase the number of flights from Srinagar to various cities across the country, following overwhelming demand from tourists seeking to return home after the Pahalgam terror attack a day earlier. An official release from the Director General of DGCA, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, said, 'The airlines are advised to take swift action to increase the number of flights in response to heightened demand and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, facilitating evacuation of stranded tourists.' The release also urged airlines to consider waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees, and to provide necessary assistance to tourists facing difficulties. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu cautioned airlines against fare hikes in response to the rush to leave Srinagar. Naidu posted on X: 'Strict instructions were given to airline companies to avoid any fare surges. Fares are being monitored and kept at reasonable levels.' Three more flights from Srinagar to Delhi – two IndiGo flights and a SpiceJet flight – were operated on Wednesday, in addition to the four extra flights already announced, he stated. He added that airlines have waived fees typically levied for cancellations and rescheduling. Food and water were being provided at Srinagar airport, with an extra tent set up for passengers waiting to depart. 'Between 6 am and 12 pm today, Srinagar handled 20 departures with 3,337 passengers,' Naidu said. However, a few posts on X challenged this, highlighting the exorbitant fares being charged by airlines. Arjun Chauhan posted a screenshot showing fares from Srinagar to Kolkata ranging between Rs 32,000 and Rs 37,000. 'Just look at how private airlines are charging 3x more fare from the panic stricken tourists of J&K," he said. Several other posts on X also pointed to surging prices for flights to Kolkata. A post by '@_BringToLight' noted that an airline was charging Rs 23,000 for a flight from Srinagar to Delhi departing at 10:30 pm on Wednesday. In a statement, the Ministry of Tourism urged all stakeholders in the tourism industry to waive cancellation fees for accommodations and tours in light of the Pahalgam incident. A statement from Tourism Secretary V Vidyavathi said, "It is requested that all the tourist service providers, travel agents, tour operators, Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs), tourist transport providers, hoteliers and all other accommodation units may provide all possible assistance to the tourists including waiving off cancellation fees."
Business Upturn
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Pahalgam terror attack: Centre urges travel companies to assist tourists, waive cancellation fees
By News Desk Published on April 23, 2025, 20:09 IST In light of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has issued an official advisory requesting comprehensive support for tourists currently in or planning to travel to the region. Dated April 23, 2025, the directive has been issued to a wide range of travel ecosystem stakeholders—including Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs), travel agents, tour operators, hotel chains, and transport providers. It requests that these entities extend all possible assistance to affected tourists, including waiving off cancellation charges for bookings made in the Kashmir region. The letter, signed by Tourism Secretary V. Vidyavathi, specifically urges platforms such as MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, ClearTrip, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, Airbnb, Agoda, Thrillophilia, and Expedia to cooperate. It also encourages the broader Tourism and Hospitality Industry Associations to support the initiative. The Ministry has also sent copies of the advisory to the Department of Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for information and appropriate action. This move comes amid heightened concerns for the safety of tourists following the April 21 Pahalgam incident, which led to a sharp increase in outbound flight traffic from Srinagar. The Centre's initiative seeks to minimize disruption for travelers and ensure coordinated support during this sensitive period. News desk at
