In the wake of the terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu has issued a “strong advisory against surge pricing” to airlines, asking them to maintain regular airfare levels on flights connecting Srinagar with the rest of India.
Tuesday’s terrorist attack in which armed terrorists opened fire at tourists in Pahalgam had led to calls for evacuation of tourists wanting to leave the Kashmir valley. Moreover, a large number of tourists have been stranded in the Valley for over three days as the -Srinagar national highway is closed due to damage caused by recent flash floods and landslides in the Ramban district. This, too, had led to calls from tour operators and travel agents for evacuation of stranded tourists by air.
The highway, a critical lifeline connecting the Kashmir valley to the rest of the country, is likely to be closed for a few more days for repairs. This means that flying out of Srinagar would be the only viable option for tourists looking to leave the Valley. Fares for flights out of Srinagar had shot up over the past few days due to a sudden surge in demand.
As part of immediate relief measures, four special flights from Srinagar—two to and two to —have been arranged, which will be operated by Air India and IndiGo on Wednesday in addition to the regular scheduled flights from Srinagar. According to information provided by the aviation ministry, additional flights have been kept on standby to cater to further evacuation needs.
Major airlines IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express have also announced free rescheduling and full refunds on flights to and from Srinagar till April 30. Akasa Air has also announced cancellation and rescheduling fee waivers for flights to and from Srinagar till April 29.
“Shri Ram Mohan Naidu also held an urgent meeting with all airline operators and issued a strong advisory against surge pricing. Airlines have been directed to maintain regular fare levels, ensuring that no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time… Additionally, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu has directed all airlines to extend full cooperation for the transportation of deceased individuals to their respective home states, working in sync with state governments and local authorities,” the ministry said in a release.
Flight ticketing data indicates that IndiGo operates direct flights to Srinagar from eight cities. Air India Express connects Srinagar directly to five destinations, while its parent Air India operates direct flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Mumbai. Besides these three airlines, Akasa Air and SpiceJet also operate flights to and from Srinagar.
