JEDDAH, 7 February 2004 — Air-India has pledged cut fares and provide improved services on its flights to destinations in the south Indian state of Kerala. This follows a boycott campaign by Indians working in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
Captain P.P. Singh, the airline’s regional director for the Gulf, Middle East and Africa, made the pledge at a meeting of the Joint Action Committee that recently threatened to boycott Air-India and Indian Airlines if they failed to meet their “legitimate” demands.
“Singh gave us assurance to consider some of our demands within 10 days after consulting with Air-India management,” K.P. Muhammad Kutty, chairman of JAC, told Arab News.
The offer includes restructuring fares on Air-India’s direct flights to Calicut in line with the Jeddah-Bombay-Calicut route. According to travel industry sources, this will cut the price by SR400.
The committee has said that the regional director told them that Air-India will discount fares to those purchasing tickets two weeks before departure.
Child fares will be brought down from 67 to 50 percent, the committee reported, adding that in future returning Haj flights would be used for Indian passengers after consultations with Saudi authorities. “If our talks with Saudis succeed we will transport Jeddah passengers on these flights at reduced rates from next year,” Muhammad Kutty said quoting the Air-India official.
Air-India operates some 34 Haj flights to and from Calicut during the Haj season and the new move would help nearly 13,600 passengers to enjoy discounted fares during the period.
British Airways already does this, using returning empty Haj flights to offer cheap fares to London and then back to Jeddah on aircraft sent to pick up pilgrims after Haj.
Singh also agreed to remove the penalties imposed on passengers canceling their bookings during Eid holidays and school vacations. Air-India will also have at least one Malayalam-speaking member of cabin staff on Jeddah-Calicut flights, the statement said.
Passengers stranded as a result of cancellation of flights would be given standard accommodation and food. “Air-India will also stop the present practice of indefinitely extending its high season fares,” the statement said.
“In light of the recent decision by the Kerala government revoking fuel tariff on international flights Air-India will take steps to reduce fares to destinations in the state proportionately,” Singh said.
The committee said Air-India had also agreed to support the Indian government’s plan to operate budget flights to Gulf countries.
S.M. Mazharullah, Air-India manager for the Western Province, confirmed the agreement with JAC officials. However, he pointed out that action would be taken only after receiving orders from the airline’s management.
JAC, representing more than 50 Keralite organizations, threatened last month to boycott the two national airlines if they failed to slash their “discriminatory” fares to the south Indian cities of Calicut, Cochin and Trivandrum.
Keralites account for 70 percent of the 1.6 million Indians working in Saudi Arabia. About 800 passengers travel on Air-India’s four weekly flights to Calicut. Cost is a major consideration. More than 80 percent of Indian workers in the Gulf earn less than $300 a month. The committee said it was demanding a fare structure based on the actual distance and cost of operations, which would reduce the present fare by 30-35 percent.
