Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Indian airlines have cancelled over 10,000 flights to West Asia since the start of the US-Iran war on Feb 28. Aviation ministry joint secretary Asangba Chuba Ao said Tuesday Indian airlines on an average had 300-350 daily flights to West Asia, a number that is now down to 80-90. Apart from monetary losses caused by this decline, airlines now have to take much longer routes to and from the west at a time when aviation turbine fuel prices (ATF) prices have increased globally.Chuba Ao said: “The aviation ministry is actively working with all stakeholders… exploring all means of who we can support the industry, especially airlines and to bring down the cost which eventually will be passed on to consumers. All measures are being explored to ensure that the sector remains buoyant.”The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had recently granted a temporary relaxation in flight duty time limitations (FDTL) for pilots operating long-haul flights to and from the west, allowing fatigued pilots to fly for longer than before due to the longer routes flights have to take now. The relaxation is valid till April 30. “It will be revisited. We still have some time. It is an evolving situation and taking into consideration what happens in coming days, this dispensation will be relooked at. If required, we will take the necessary call at that point of time,’ he said.Meanwhile, after IndiGo, Air India has also hiked fuel surcharge due to aviation turbine fuel (ATF) base prices more than doubling for international flights and increasing by 25% for domestic ones. From Wednesday morning, Air India domestic fuel surcharge will be revised from a flat Rs 399 to between Rs 299 and 899 depending on distance.The old fuel surcharge of Rs 399 for SAARC flights will increase to $24. Surcharge for other international flights has been revised to be between $50 (for West Asia flights) and $280 (for North America and Australia flights).
