Airfares of special flights from West Asia to India soar

Airfares from West Asia to India have surged following the partial reopening of airspaces, reaching predatory levels due to limited scheduled flights. Airlines are operating special flights but prices for routes like Dubai to Kochi and Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram are significantly higher than usual. This has prompted passengers to demand a cap on international fares similar to the one imposed on domestic routes during the IndiGo crisis. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and regulate ticket prices for stranded transit passengers, while Biji Eapen, national president of the IATA Agents Association of India, suggested exploring special fares for evacuating stranded individuals.