Europe's ash clouds airfares from India

Mumbai: Even as airlines cancelled all West-bound flights for the third consecutive day on Saturday because of the volcanic ash blinding European airspace, industry experts predicted tough days for passengers travelling to the UK, the US and other European countries. Tour operators said that the volcanic eruption had cast a pall over the holiday and business travel season.
The International Air Travel Association (IATA) estimates that airlines are losing $ 200 million a day on account of cancellations. Worst hit are flyers, stranded in various parts of the globe, waiting for airspace restrictions to be lifted.
Travel experts say that even when restrictions are lifted, passengers may have to pay through their noses to buy a ticket to the UK, US and much of Europe because of the backlog. "Most of the flights are either flying full or are packed to 90 percent capacity. When the European airspace is cleared, there will be a crowd of stranded passengers vying for the few available seats on flights," said Rajesh Rateria, managing director, Cirrus Travels. "It will be a difficult situation for airlines to handle."
Tour operators said currently most airlines are left with only business class seats to offer, as most flights are running booked. "In that situation, the question is whether a passenger will be able to get a seat for the rates he/she wanted even while the re-booking charges are waived off," said Ajay Prakash, national general secretary, Travel Agents' Federation of India (TAFI). Even if fares don't go up, passengers will be paying Rs 50,000 for a ticket to a European destination instead of Rs 35,000 as only business class seats are on offer.
Agency reports said the ash plume forced extension of no-fly restrictions over much of Europe on Saturday as Icelandic scientists warned that volcanic activity had increased.
18/04/10 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Foreign Apr 2010, Indian Aviation- In General Apr 2010