MALAPPURAM: It is vacation in Gulf countries with schools closed after summer exams. However, times are tough for Malayali expats as their desperate efforts to travel to Kerala still have not yielded any results.
The services that were cut following the Iran war have not been restored despite the peace agreement. The fares are three times higher than they used to be. For example, the Dubai-Thiruvananthapuram Air India fare has gone up to Rs 45,000. Foreign companies are charging up to Rs 60,000 for the same route.
Air India has cut international flights by 27 percent till August. Other airlines have also reduced flights by up to 20 per cent in their summer schedule. This has led to a significant reduction in seats from the Gulf to Kerala. Airline companies are attempting to make up for the loss of services by increasing ticket prices.
Due to the selection of safe air routes, the direct travel time from the Gulf to Kerala is now up to three and a half hours longer. A non-stop flight from Dubai takes 3.45 hours to reach Thiruvananthapuram. If there is a connecting flight, it will take up to 24 hours. The fares on connecting flights are lower.
Air India fare (in rupees)
Dubai- Kozhikode................................44,000- 52,000
Dubai- Kochi.............................35,000- 45,000
Abu Dhabi- Kozhikode............42,500- 48,500
Abu Dhabi- Kochi......................34,000- 42,000
Abu Dhabi-Kannur......................41,000- 44,000
On foreign flights (in rupees)
Dubai- Kozhikode.................... 57,000- 60,000
Dubai- Kochi...............................55,000- 60,000
Abu Dhabi-Thiruvananthapuram......56,000- 62,000
Abu Dhabi- Kozhikode............58,000- 62,000
Abu Dhabi- Kochi .....................57,000- 60,000