International travellers, who have been forced to cancel their tickets due to swine flu, want airlines to waive cancellation charges
International travellers, who have been forced to cancel their tickets due to swine flu, want airlines to waive cancellation charges
With the H1N1 influenza A, commonly known as swine flu, spreading to more countries, several Mumbaikars have been forced to cancel their trips abroad. Already dealing with one blow, they are hoping the airlines will waive cancellation charges on their tickets on humanitarian grounds and save them from further grief.
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Among such travellers is importer Protik Kudva, who cancelled a business trip to China. He had paid Rs 37,000 for his Thai Airways tickets. "The cancellation fee is between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000, which is a huge amount.
In the line of fire
The ones who are facing the ire of the international travellers are the travel agents. Said Mehboob Mohammed Shaikh, manger of Travel Voyages India, "Clients cancelling their tickets want the charges waived. We understand, but the decision is not in our hands. We have conveyed their wishes to the airlines, but they are yet to reply."
Pradip Lulla, acting president of Travel Agents Federation Of India, agreed, "Our clients are cancelling their visits to countries abroad due to the swine flu epidemic. But we cannot assure them of a waiver. It is up to the airlines."
Shaikh added that there were precedents for such requests. "After 26/11, we had made a similar appeal. The airlines had agreed to waive the cancellation fee then. Why can't they do it this time?" he asked. He pegged the losses incurred by the tourism industry because of the pandemic at 20 per cent and mounting.
What cancellations?
Though tour operators have waived their charges for clients who wish to change their travel plans due to the epidemic, airlines insist there have not been a significant number of cancellations due to the pandemic.
According to Jitendra Bhargava, executive director, Air India, "There have been no cancellations as such due to the epidemic. Even the World Health Organisation has said there is no need to worry and people may postpone their trips, but need not cancel them."
Kiran Nambiar, regional manager (India and South East Asia), Tourism New Zealand, said, "So far, only five passengers have cancelled their trips to New Zealand. The situation is improving in New Zealand. The three swine flu victims have been cured and are spending time with their family. We cannot ask the airlines to waive the cancellation fee, as they are private bodies and we cannot dictate rules to them. We will rethink our policy if the situation worsens."
Despite several attempts, no one from British Airways was available for comment.
The toll
Latest confirmed cases from around the world
Mexico: 487, 19 dead
US: 226, 1 dead
Canada: 85
Spain: 40
UK: 18
Germany: 8
New Zealand: 4
Israel: 3
Italy, France: 2
Hong Kong, Ireland, Colombia, South Korea, Austria, Costa Rica, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland: 1
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