Flights reductions begin as India visa suspension kicks in today
NEW DELHI: International airlines have begun reducing flights to India after the country suspended most existing visas till April 15, 2020, to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Air India has also reduced frequency of its flights to Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt and Tel Aviv. Qatar Airways, Finnair, Delta and Cathay Pacific were among the foreign carriers that announced flights cuts to India on Thursday. Airline bosses are terming COVID-19 as the “biggest crisis ever to face aviation which seriously threatens survival of many carriers”.
With Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi also restricting travel and Thailand, Sri Lanka stopping visa on arrival, big Indian carriers like IndiGo and Air India may have to just park some planes till things improve. Domestic travel is also down by 15-20%.
Sabina Chopra, co-founder and COO of travel portal Yatra, said there has been a massive impact on the travel industry. “…suspension of visas is expected to have a substantial impact on the foreign tourist arrival which was already witnessing a drop due to the prevailing situation. We have received close to 35% cancellation queries from travellers planning trips abroad…. airfares have dropped by 40% to affected destinations.
