As tensions rise in China and India over a disputed border, the U.S. is taking an even-handed approach: threatening to ban both of them from flying to the USA unless U.S. carriers are given more access to their nations. The latest issue is repatriation flights on Air India.
USA: India Operating Bogus Repatriation Flights
India is now operating daily so-called “repatriation” flights between India and the USA and Canada. At the same time, U.S. and Canadian carriers are not allowed to operate to India. This has prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to accuse India, which owns flag carrier Air India, of engaging in “discriminatory practices.”
“Air India is advertising flights that would constitute a rate of 53% of the scheduled services it operated before the onset of the current public health emergency.
“Considering this rate of flying, and that Air India is selling tickets on the market, the charters go beyond true repatriations, and it appears that Air India may be using repatriation charters as a way of circumventing the GoI-imposed prohibition of scheduled services.”
Air India now sells “repatriation” tickets online, which the U.S. says indicates that it is really no longer “true repatriations.” Thus, moving forward Air India charter flights will need to be approved on a case-by-case basis.
USA Wants To Level Playing Field
A DOT order promises that this decision will be revisited once India levels the playing field.
“The Department seeks to restore a level playing field for U.S. airlines, as provided for in the U.S.-India Air Transport Agreement. The Department is willing to reconsider this action once all applicable restrictions on U.S. carrier rights cease to be applied to U.S. carriers, and a level playing field has been restored.”
This order was issued on June 22, 2020 but does not take effect until July 21, 2020, giving Air India up to a month to continue to exclusively operating flights between the USA and India.
India Now Discussing Re-Opening Flights Between USA and India
Live from a Lounge notes that India is not pushing back against the concerns, but is now considering travel bubbles between a handful of nations in which citizens could travel back and forth without extensive quarantine requirements.
We have received requests from concerned authorities in several countries including US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission pic.twitter.com/MK5xNHV0Hx
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) June 23, 2020
The “Vande Bharat Mission” is what India has called its global efforts to repatriate Indians since the pandemic closed much of the world in March. Vande Bharat Express is the name of India’s fastest train.
CONCLUSION
The USA and other nations make a very reasonable point concerning the one-sided nature of air traffic in India right now. With Air India now put on warning, it is likely that more flights will resume to India in the weeks ahead.
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image: Brian / Wikimedia Commons
Honestly, there should probably be a travel ban between the U.S. and India right now. It’s outrageous that Europeans aren’t allowed to travel to the U.S., but Indians can, given the EU epidemic is under control, but India — a nation of over a billion people with weak public health institutions — has a raging epidemic.
Today my parents left for Delhi from SF . While we are immensely thankful for air India to fly the so called evacuation flights the cost of the tickets were about 1.5 times the normal cost. It looks like Air India with the support of GOI took this opportunity to balance it red acoustic sheet. I agree with the US government that in fairness other airlines should be given the opportunity too.
This 1.5 time ticket price is because of allowed passenger are only 66%.
How double minded you are, this is not normal situation, and you are expecting normal treatment.
I recently traveled by KLM, they are also charging almost double charges, but no one complaining, as usual Indian wants free.
Stop talking like a “Bhakt”. I flew in one of the “Vande Bharat” flights and the flight was full from the front to the back. GoI isn’t doing anyone a favor with these flights.
In short, don’t be a blind bhakt.
Yes, vande Bharat is a fictitious slogan just to make money under the pretext of repatriation.
Yesterday, i travelled from JFK to New Delhi. It was jam packed and it was like a second class sleeper train. Stop being a bhakt. Go see the twitter handles of air india as well and see how people are made to sit on these vande bharat flight. Squeezed like cattle. First, when one is charging twice and asking money, is this a repatriation flight? Fifteen hours, not even a sip of water was given. No country would treat citizens this way. Utter chaos after landing as well.
It’s not about 1.5 fares it’s about bullshit they doing right now you are talking about klm my relative recently came back to us and fares are more than double the normal fare was before 800 to 900 and now they spend 2200 dollar for one person and the stay was in 3 countries first flight went to Amsterdam 4 hours stay then to Israel 8 hours stay and to the final destination Chicago it’s good if us ban airindia there is only two worst flights airindia and pia they should be ban permanently
Plz don’t be guess 66% fully jam inside the passenger, none of the seat is empty. No social distance and over crowed. Air India is just money maker. They don’t think of even they have kids. So so rude air hostess and we bought a three times ticket for 4 families members again and again for same person. They are not refund our money and when we call keepsaying they will call back. Never ever take air India again. Very very disappointed.
@James
I sense Jealousy. A country with billion people has managed the pandemic pretty well, compared to so called powerful EU bloc. The pandemic just exposed what was already broken in case of EU. After looking at EU’s handling of virus the perception that Europeans are smarter just broke.
Get well soon
Why dont let American citizens get out here on there own airline l dont like to fly on air india they have rude customers service we want to fly on emrites let them open normal flights been stranded here over 5 months only india would do something like this. Greedy country.
Vande Mataram is just slogan but looting NRI s as they r bakras I feel pity on govt not knowing the reason why people wanted to travel india due to job layoff most of them and prices are doubled with fully packed flights and as individual think NRI s are also same as others like who r Indians in China.
It is worse in the US, but they just want the business open on coffins. India still is better off.
Nothing is ‘controlled’ in Europe. Death rate is enormously higher in the west European countries compared to India.
@James: Well said. I couldn’t agree with you more.
James, I also agree.
Ya it’s fine that more flight will open but we should also consider travel bubble for Canada as lots of International student are tensed.
I travelled from San Francisco to to New Delhi and onward to Bangalore on 13th of May. Flight was full not 66%.
I travelled from Chicago to Delhi on 19th June the flight was almost full and not 66%
@Matthew and @James The flights operstung from India were sending foreign nationals back home, please do your due research. You guys are ok, with businesses increasing the price of commodities but not ok if Air India increased its prices? Be realistic and pull down your bogus claims and articles.
Bogus should have been in quotes, well, depends on who is writing. Anyway, why argue amongst we friendly nations when the trouble creator is someone else.
@James, @Former UA1K, @Matthew: Pot calling the kettle black? India numbers may be bad or worse but the US pandemic numbers are nothing to write home about either. Without concrete numbers, please don’t spread FUD and stick to the topic – US Targets Bogus “Repatriation” Flights”.
This is the best news all week! I am aching to go to India from the States to see my wife and daughter who have been stuck there but wasn’t eligible for the so-called repatriation flights because I’m not an Indian citizen. Can’t wait!
Air India is using this pandemic to benefit them. I was instructed that I had to cancel my flight before my flight date in order to be eligible for a refund due to COVID. Then my refund was denied because I canceled. We are not being treated fair
Hell yes! They deserved it. All these days AI and Indian government was trying to rip off passengers by changing 3x the price. Calling it repatriation but selling tickets online and operating scheduled flights. I’m glad US has noted the mischievous nature of Indian politicians. Trump knows how to put these fools in check. Let’s put United Polaris and Delta One services back on the NYC BOM route!
If American airlines so generously will to fly to and from India in this global pandemic situation they are welcome .but do do crybaby on airindia. Whether good or bad it’s operating .we should be thankful. Bunch of idiotic NRI Indians are also talking nonsense .they being havoc to the country by their foolish behavior. I have seen many times while traveling via Qatar these idiots behave as if more than real Americans.
I am Indian. I came here in USA with my wife in 1st week of December 2019 to spend some time with my son who is employed here. Unfortunately we couldn’t return to India on 2nd April 2020, as planned, by Air India Flight AI 126 as they canceled the flight due to lockdown and flight restrictions. Since then we are simply trying to get the Refund against our Return Ticket but unfortunately Air India and Ministry of Aviation are declining and postponing the matter even after our several requests made to them. Now we are not in a position to fly back to India due to our old age and risky travel conditions.
I think that Air India’s recent tactics of doing business is very much unfair. It is clearly a matter of serious offense. Now it seems that they are less interested in resolving the matter of Refund rather they are trying to grab the opportunity by means of bad trade practices. Therefore I think that Air India should be dealt with hard actions and bold decisions by the Transport / Aviation Departments of other countries. Just do not allow Air India to play games.
UAE bars Indian carriers from flying in passengers on “repatriation flights”; promises flights from Etihad.
“Tit for tat.”
A slap to Air India and Ministry of Aviation for doing bad trade practices.
I second that with some what same experience. An AI return ticket is not being honoured while the same passenger is being made to buy a fresh ticket at abnormally high prices. They say you can fly on the return ticket only after October, but if you want to fly now buy a new ticket. Air India is fleecing passengers under the garb of repatriation. Can be called Repatriation only if people who are stuck with return tickets must be allowed to fly first! Worsening image from an already bad one by taking advantage of circumstances.
Everything is fair in business, love & war..but words like ‘fools’ are inappropriate. U should mind your language, and be decent enough in addressing any grievances..
..
It seems that you are an Air India employee or an agent. Birds of same feathers.
Air India should be slapped with heavy fine by the IATA and by the US Transportation Autority for doing unfair business practices. Going further they should also banned AI internationally specially to USA and Canada for good.
Good point raised by anyone against Air india Flights. Several complaints done for this to Indian Govt. But nobody is hearing. Finally they have surrendered to USA. They never give response to common man. Always they insulted therselves. Spoiled the image of India.
Exactly it is bogus. Start international commercial flights. Help us United with families. We will not book Airindia. It’s looting from people.
We are missing family members so flights must be resumed immediately. How long can we keep away from our brothers snd sisters? We are stressed , whst wl happen if our elderly person dies, who will do kriya karma, if flights are shut like this.
This is all business. No body cares .Even Govt. Of India don’t care of its citizens. They fly only fist of flights for repatriation. It is time to open international regular flights. They should close this drama of suspension of flights.
When VBM flights are running well between India and USA why can’t USA can run American Air Lines from USA to India .
Charging above normal ticket prices for ‘repatriation flights’ is absolutely unacceptable and unethical. All countries should take a hard stance against Air India for this.
Hardip Singh Puri and the Ministry of Transportation of India totally fraud and shame to the country. I am glad. USA and other European countries banned the airlines on their unfair tactics if doing business.
Mr Puri open the doors for other International Airlines to operate and Enough of shady business and greed.
I am sure you guys made enough money to pull Air India out if Bankruptcy.
Hardip Singh Puri and the Ministry of Transportation of India totally fraud and shame to the country. I am glad. USA and other European countries banned the airlines on their unfair tactics of doing business.
Mr Puri open the doors for other International Airlines to operate and Enough of shady business and greed.
I am sure you guys made enough money to pull Air India out of Bankruptcy.
I too came to NY last weekend and flight was full. Also was charged close to $1000 each ticket in addition to return ticket.
This is how revenue management team works. While i checked fares for other airlines and realised they are much higher than Air India.
Also, option provided to fly is not compulsory, if someone feel fare is higher they dont need to fly and stay at home instead of complaining.
And i would agree every airline will take this opportunity to cover all the losses during pandemic since it will take atleast 1-2 years for all airlines to reach their original demands. ( Imagine you are owner of airlines what would you do?)
This is business and it works this way only, I think James would know better how revenue management team works in airlines since he is enough experienced.