Bombay flights continue despite travel ban

Flights are operating between the UK and Bombay despite a Foreign Office statement advising Britons against travel to the city.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air India and Jet Airways are all operating London-Bombay (Mumbai) flights as normal.
The only flight cancellations so far have been among European and US carriers. Alitalia has cancelled all Bombay flights until further notice, while Lufthansa has cancelled two flights, from Frankfurt and Munich to Bombay today.
Air France cancelled one service between Paris and Bombay, but said Friday flights would operate as normal. Delta Airlines also cancelled its Seattle-Amsterdam-Bombay flight today.
Among the four carriers that are continuing to operate flights from the UK, all are allowing customers to change flight bookings to a later date or alternative destination if they do not wish to fly. Most are not offering refunds at this stage, unless the terms and conditions of the original ticket allow it.
Virgin is currently allowing amendments to bookings for flights up to December 3, and British Airways is offering the same.
The Foreign Office advice, against all but essential travel, affects Bombay only. Its travel advice for the rest of India remains the same.
For those travellers who wish to continue holidays to Bombay, in spite of advice, there is a risk that their travel insurance policy could be invalidated owing to the Foreign Office advice. Although travel insurers have been sympathetic in situations of this kind in the past, If you are thinking of travelling to Bombay, it is wise to check with your insurer before you travel.
Chris Price, head of travel insurance at Direct Line said: "Terrorism is normally excluded from travel insurance policies. However, for Direct Line customers, we are doing everything we can using our agent in India who has local knowledge and contacts to help Direct Line customers get out of Mumbai quickly and safely.
"The British Embassy has offered to help stranded British tourists. If you can't get through to them or your travel agent or tour operator, we can assist in booking flights home and offer advice to concerned holiday makers and business travellers stuck in Mumbai."
Kuoni, which has an extensive programme in India, had four customers in Bombay who were due to stay at the Taj Mahal Hotel. There were taken to an alternative hotel and have been accounted for.
Its remaining holidaymakers who are already in India and are due to visit Bombay will continue with transits through Bombay airport. Those due to visit the city in the coming weeks are being offered an alternative holiday.
Explore, an adventure holiday company that operates in India, says customers booked on its Bengal to the Malabar Coast tour will be rerouted to avoid Bombay.
Cox & Kings, an India specialist tour operator, had a British couple staying in the Heritage Wing of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel who were evacuated, and has no other clients in Bombay at present.
Director Philip Hamilton-Grierson said: “Cox & Kings will be contacting all affected clients – a relatively low number – to discuss alternative arrangements. Mumbai is not one of the major tourist centres in India and although some of our clients pass through Mumbai en route to other destinations, relatively few actually stay in the city.”
Lonely Planet travel editor Tom Hall says there will be reprecussions for Bombay's tourism.
27/11/08 Times Online, UK

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Categories: Foreign Nov 2008, Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2008