Kerala Floods: Air India to operate Gulf flights from Trivandrum, Kozhikode; Vistara caps economy class fares

As the Kochi international airport will remain closed for operation till August 26 morning due to torrential rains, national carrier Air India said the flight scheduled to fly from Cochin to Jeddah will operate from Trivandrum Airport. The shutdown of Kochi airport has also prompted authorities to divert many incoming and outgoing flights to Trivandrum or Kozhikode. 
 
Air India stated that “on August 16, our Kochi-Sharjah-Kochi and Kochi-Bahrain-Kochi will operate from/to Kozhikode. All other Kochi-bound flights will operate from/to Trivandrum,” For further assistance, flyers can contact Air India Express control room helpline at 0484 - 2610040, 2610050, the national carrier tweeted. 

#FlyAI : #UPDATE #airindiaexpress @KochiAirport pic.twitter.com/PuYJvYdfpM

— Air India (@airindiain) August 15, 2018

 
Air passengers travelling from Cochin are facing severe inconveniences due to heavy rains in Kerala, as airlines had to cancel flights operating to and from Cochin in the wake of operations at Kochi airport remain suspended till Saturday. 
 
Many airlines, however, said that penalties on change in date or cancellation on confirmed tickets to Kochi have been waived off. Vistara, for example, has started special flights from Trivandrum. 

Vistara, which is operating special flights to Trivandrum after CIAL shut down, will operate from Delhi and Chennai, and has reportedly capped economy class fares at Rs 10,000-7,500. 

Update #3: We are operating special flights to Trivandrum in view of Kochi airport closure. Flights will operate from Delhi and Chennai. Economy Class fares will be capped at Rs 10k/7.5k respectively one way. We don’t normally operate to TRV,and have made special arrangements. pic.twitter.com/phYeO1LkrB

— Vistara (@airvistara) August 15, 2018

Vistara tweeted, "We are operating special flights to Trivandrum in view of Kochi airport closure. Flights will operate from Delhi and Chennai. Economy Class fares will be capped at Rs 10k/7.5k respectively one way. We don’t normally operate to TRV,and have made special arrangements."
 
Domestic carrier Jet Airways also tweeted that considering the current situation in Kochi, they have extended the waiver on penalties for date/ flight change, refund, no-show and fare difference if any, on all confirmed tickets for flights operating to and from Kochi upto August 18, 2018.

#9Wupdate pic.twitter.com/bZNzpmvkoy

— Jet Airways (@jetairways) August 16, 2018

Notably, Jet Airways had offered similar waiver on charges for passengers flying from Calicut International Airport on Wednesday. 
 
IndiGo airlines also announced cancellation/rescheduling fee waiver to all passengers who were scheduled to travel between August 16 and 18. It tweeted, “Due to the ongoing flood situation in Kochi, we’re offering a cancellation/rescheduling fee waiver to all passengers scheduled to travel on 16th, 17th and 18th August 2018.” 

#6ETravelAdvisory: Due to the ongoing flood situation in Kochi, we're offering a cancellation/rescheduling fee waiver to all passengers scheduled to travel on 16th, 17th and 18th Aug, 2018. Please visit https://t.co/ofwzjniT1l We hope everything gets normal soon.

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 15, 2018

Another domestic carrier GoAir too announced waivers on rescheduling of flight services and cancellations until August 18. Customers can call at 18602100999 to reschedule their flights. It tweeted, "Due to runway flooding at the Kochi Airport, CIAL has temporarily suspended operations till 18th Aug 2018, 2PM. Customers are requested to call 18602100999 to reschedule their flights at no extra charge. Full refund will be made for cancellations up to 18th Aug 2018, 2PM." 
 
#GoAlert
Due to runway flooding at the Kochi Airport, CIAL has temporarily suspended operations till 18th Aug 2018, 2PM. Customers are requested to call 18602100999 to reschedule their flights at no extra charge. Full refund will be made for cancellations up to 18th Aug 2018, 2PM

— GoAir (@goairlinesindia) August 15, 2018

Union Civil Aviation Ministry acceded to Kerala's request to utilise other airports in the state, instead of diverting the flights to Mumbai and other places. 

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted, “We have asked all airlines, domestic and foreign, to reschedule their Cochin flights either from Trivandrum or from Calicut (Kozhikode). For international flights, this will require special dispensation which has been granted considering the emergency. DGCA is coordinating.” 

We have asked all airlines, domestic and foreign, to reschedule their Cochin flights either from Trivandrum or from Calicut. For international flights, this will require special dispensation which has been granted considering the emergencyDGCA is coordinating.#KeralaFlood

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 15, 2018

According to latest reports, the death toll in the monsoon fury in Kerala has crossed 167. Rise in flood waters in Periyar River due to the rains and opening of the shutters of all major dams including Mullaperiyar, Cheruthoni, part of Idukki reservoir and Idamalayar, have reportedly affected the lives of people in downstream areas.