Rs 9.12 lakh for one-way ticket, airlines ‘squeezing’ expats amidst Middle East tensions

NEW DELHI: Air passengers from India to London are in a severe crisis as the airspace is closed due to the war-like situation in the Middle East. Direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad have disappeared from booking platforms. However, airlines are charging exorbitant prices for the few seats available.

Virgin Atlantic is the only direct flight from Delhi to London on March 6. Its one-way ticket costs around Rs 9.12 lakh. This huge amount is being charged for a ten-hour journey. Meantime, those taking a connecting flight via Dubai can get tickets for Rs 44,000, but the journey will take more than 25 hours. This has been a big setback for expatriates in London. Many people are stranded in India.

Due to the tension in the Middle East, many airlines have avoided unsafe airspace. This led to services being cut short. The fact that planes are flying around to avoid airspace where there is a threat of war has increased travel time and fuel costs. With the reduction in direct services, there is huge demand for the remaining seats.

The ministry of civil aviation is closely monitoring the situation. The ministry has informed that steps have been taken to reduce the suffering of passengers. The ministry of civil aviation has directed airlines to arrange special flights and extra seats to bring back stranded passengers. The safety of passengers is being ensured in coordination with Indian embassies abroad. People wanting to go to London have to pay huge amounts or have to rely on connecting flights with hours of waiting.