JEDDAH, 10 September — Air-India yesterday announced a new fare for stretcher-bound passengers. It is about three times less than the fare charged earlier.
S.M. Mazharullah, Air India manager for the Western Region, said a passenger on stretcher used to be charged SR6,222 to travel to Delhi or Bombay from Jeddah.
Under the new rate, stretcher-bound passengers are charged only SR2,074, he added.
This was because the previous policy of the airline was to calculate the stretcher fare based on the published Jeddah-Bombay fare, which is SR2,074, and not on the market fare, which is only SR941.
Now the fare for the stretcher facility will be calculated on the basis of the market fare, Mazharulla explained. He added, though, that the fare may vary slightly from agent to agent.
The new fare will be open up to March, 2003, and the aero-stretcher service is available on bigger aircraft only.
Mazharullah said if a passenger needs the stretcher service on sectors served only by smaller aircraft, prior information has to be given the airline to make necessary arrangements.
He also said that from yesterday the airline has restored its first class and executive class services for Jeddah-Delhi and Jeddah-Bombay flights, on public demand. (SFA)
