Following the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet airlines on Wednesday added a total of seven additional flights from Srinagar for those wishing to return from the Valley. Additional flights have also been kept ready to meet the need for further evacuation, according to the aviation ministry.
According to Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, the government has also issued strict instructions to airlines to avoid fare hikes on Srinagar flights and is actively monitoring fares, which are being "kept at a reasonable level". All airlines have also waived rescheduling and cancellation charges for flights to and from Srinagar for a week.
Initially, Air India and IndiGo had announced two additional flights each from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai for Wednesday, outside their regular flight schedule from the city. Later on Wednesday afternoon, Naidu said that three additional flights are being added - two by IndiGo and one by SpiceJet.
According to Naidu, between 6 am and 12 pm on Wednesday, 20 flights departed from Srinagar airport, carrying a total of 3,337 passengers.
“In addition to the four additional flights already announced, three more flights have been added to Delhi today—IndiGo 6E 3203 (Departure: 1700, Arrival: 1800), IndiGo 6E 3103 (Departure: 1800, Arrival: 1930), and a SpiceJet flight scheduled to depart at 10:30 pm. All airlines operating from Srinagar have waived off cancellation and rescheduling charges to assist passengers,” Naidu posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“I am personally monitoring the situation and am in constant touch with the Home Ministry and the airlines. This is a time of solidarity. We stand with every citizen and will ensure all necessary assistance,” the minister added.
Citing an unexpected increase in demand for flights from Srinagar, the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory to airlines to "increased the number of flights in response to the increased demand and ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations in India, to facilitate the evacuation of stranded tourists".
The terror attack on Tuesday in Pahalgam by armed terrorists had prompted calls for the evacuation of tourists wishing to leave the Kashmir Valley. Moreover, a large number of tourists have been stranded in the Valley for over three days as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed due to recent floods and landslides in Ramban district. This has led to a call by tour operators and travel agents to evacuate stranded tourists by air.
The highway, a vital lifeline connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country, is likely to remain closed for a few more days for repairs. This means that flights from Srinagar will be the only viable option for tourists wishing to leave the Valley.
Air fares from Srinagar have increased in the past few days due to a sudden surge in demand. But after Tuesday's terror attacks, Naidu issued a "strong advisory against price hike" to airlines and directed them to maintain regular fares on flights connecting Srinagar to other parts of India.
Flight ticket data shows that IndiGo operates direct flights to Srinagar from eight cities. Air India Express connects Srinagar directly to five destinations, while its parent airline Air India operates direct flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Mumbai. Apart from these three airlines, Akasha Air and SpiceJet also operate flights to and from Srinagar.
0 Comments