Tourists who are stranded in the Kashmir valley in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack are having to shell out a hefty amount of money to fly back to their home towns, as flight tickets have exorbitantly risen, apparently because of heavy demand. Air fares to major Indian cities have skyrocketed since the news of the terrorist attack broke out on Tuesday evening.
Fares Surge After Attack
Searches on the websites of airline operators either show elevated ticket prices or indicate that tickets are sold out. Anyone trying to book a ticket for today would encounter messages such as “all flights are too close to departure,” “sold out,” or “unfortunately, there are no flights available.”
For Thursday, April 24, an economy class ticket from Srinagar to Delhi will cost the traveller around Rs 11,000-13,000 via an Indigo flight. On Spicejet, it is Rs 11,000-12,000. On Air India, the cost would be approximately Rs 21,000-23,000. These ticket prices are as per their respective websites at the time of writing this report.
Air fares from Srinagar to Mumbai also remain elevated.
It was not immediately known whether the newly pressed-in flights were listed on their respective websites for bookings.
Ministry Rushes to Respond
Faced with an unprecedented demand from flyers, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu yesterday spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about arranging more flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai. The civil aviation minister has been monitoring fares to prevent them from spiking in this situation.
“(The minister) is monitoring the situation around the clock to facilitate more requirements. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has arranged four new flights, two each to Delhi and Mumbai. Based on demand, they are in touch with airlines to do more,” Ram Mohan Naidu’s office said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also noted that there is an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes in the aftermath of the terrorist incident in Pahalgam.
In this regard, the civil aviation regulator has advised airlines 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 the evacuation of stranded tourists.
The airlines are also requested to consider waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees and provide all necessary assistance to tourists facing unexpected circumstances and challenges during this difficult time.
