After days of anxiety, hundreds of Australian citizens and permanent residents stranded in India were given a chance to return home on two Air India flights. But all their hopes were dashed when the tickets were snapped within minutes after bookings opened earlier today.
On Tuesday, Air India announced it will operate two flights between New Delhi and Adelaide on August 3 and 6, as part of phase 5 of the Indian government’s Vande Bharat Mission.
Although there were just two flights, the announcement gave hope to hundreds of Australians who remain trapped in India because of a limited number of flights that are operating in reduced capacities, owing to the recent capping of international arrivals.
Highlights:
- Tickets for Air India repatriation flights between India and Australia sold out within minutes
- Australians stranded in India allege tickets were purchased in bulk by travel agents
- Air India is operating two incoming and two outgoing flights as part of Vande Bharat Mission phase 5
‘Tickets were sold out within minutes’
Rohit Keswani is an Australian citizen stranded in the west Indian state of Gujarat, who has been striving to return to his life in Canberra since March but with no luck.
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Speaking to SBS Punjabi, the 38-year-old says he was hopeful of securing a ticket this time until the bookings opened, and the tickets were sold out within minutes.
“Nothing could have prepared me for today’s booking experience,” he says.
“The tickets were snapped within seconds of appearing online on the Air India website. Initially, I thought, it was just a trick and the airline would release them in batches, but nothing changed.”
Frustrated after trying multiple times, Mr Keswani adds today’s experience exposes the “incompetency” of the national carrier and the “vulnerability” of the people anxious to return home.
“The entire experience has been nothing short of a debacle and exposes the incompetency of the entity in question. People’s lives are at stake. They are anxious and desperate to return home, many are going into depression due to the incompetency of the system,” he adds.
‘Tickets were purchased in bulk by travel agents’
Temporary visa holder Surbhi Kulhan who also failed at her attempt to book a ticket says it is even more frustrating for the likes of her who went through myriads of hurdles to acquire an exemption from Australia’s travel ban and are now battling for a seat on a plane home.
“When I tried, not a single ticket was available which means we never had a chance to secure one at a time when we are being forced to shell out so much money for a one-way ticket and that too without any financial aid,” she says.
On its Twitter handle, Air India declared travellers would be able to make the bookings through its official website, booking offices and through authorised travel agents.
#FlyAI : Air India announces flights between India and Australia under #VBM Phase 5.
Bookings will open on 29th July 1000 hrs IST through website, Booking offices and our Authorised Travel Agents.
More to Come ! pic.twitter.com/AHNKMTDQtL
— Air India (@airindia) July 28, 2020
Source : www.sbs.com.au
