Airlines in India today cancelled about 70 outbound flights, most of them destined for Europe, as airspace remained shut over the continent for a second day in a row. Some flights to the United States and Canada were also grounded as a drifting volcanic ash cloud over Europe threatened to disrupt air travel across the world.
Indian airports operate more than 200 international flights daily.
Spokespersons of Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines said they have suspended all operations to and from these destinations.
While Air India said it has suspended all West-bound flights for 48 hours from today, Jet Airways said it is putting all West-bound flights on hold indefinitely. Kingfisher cancelled four flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Delhi and Mumbai.
Flights to US were also affected as most of them either have a stopover in Europe or overfly the continent.
Industry sources said about 90 per cent of passengers booked on flights now cancelled have postponed their travel.
“Majority of travellers — over 90 per cent — are waiting instead of looking for alternative arrangements,” said Sabina Chopra, co-founder of Yatra.com, a travel portal. “The leisure traveller can change their travel dates and destination. We are also postponing the supply date and back end for them by rescheduling their hotel bookings.”
But passengers who are desperate to reach their destinations are opting for alternative routes through airlines like Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qatar, China, Thai and Malaysian, she added.
Seeing the rush of desperate travellers, many of these airlines have raised their fares by as much as 15 per cent, some travel agents said.
“Its a demand-and-supply issue. So, some airlines that still have connectivity to (the) US through other routes, which have not been effected, are making hay while the sun shines,” said Vijay Thakur, president of Indian Association of Tour Operators.
Indian passengers stranded in Europe are also paying higher room tariffs as hotels there have raised rates to cash in on the chaos.
A senior vice-president of a leading Mumbai-based company, who is stuck in London for the past two days, said he was paying £85 per day for his stay in a hotel. But when he extended his stay due to the chaos, the hotel began charging him £244 for the same. He requested anonymity and also did not give the name of the hotel where he is staying.
Meanwhile, airports in India are gearing up to face a new problem— shortage of parking bays, as many flights have been grounded. To reduce inconvenience to passengers, DIAL, which runs the Delhi airport, and air traffic control officials diverted incoming cargo flights to other airports.
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