Chartered flights help stranded Gulf expats return to Kerala

Kozhikode: Even as the Gulf crisis continues to disrupt airline operations, travel agencies in the state have stepped in with chartered flights to provide an emergency travel lifeline to stranded expatriates eager to return home. A couple of travel operators have begun arranging daily chartered services from different Gulf destinations, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to airports in Kerala and beyond.Alhind Tours and Travels, for instance, is operating two-three flights from the UAE and also from Saudi Arabia on a daily basis. The flights are being arranged mainly from Fujairah International Airport and Ras Al Khaimah Airport in the UAE to airports in Kerala."There are a large number of passengers stranded in Gulf countries, including those whose visiting visas are about to expire or who are facing other emergencies. With uncertainty continuing over the resumption of regular flight operations, chartered flights are currently providing vital connectivity for expatriates trying to return home. The flights are all full," said Mohammed Shabeer, regional director of Alhind Tours and Travels.He said the agency is also exploring the possibility of facilitating the travel of expatriates from Qatar and Kuwait by road to airports from where the chartered flights to Kerala are being operated.Since the flights are arranged only after obtaining the necessary permissions from aviation authorities, schedules are often announced at very short notice, sometimes 24 hours in advance.Shabeer noted that ticket fares are comparatively higher due to the operational costs involved in chartering aircraft. At present, fares range between AED 2,000 and AED 3,000 depending on the sector.Other travel agencies, including Akbar Travels, have also organised chartered flights to help stranded passengers return to Kerala. Travel agencies had adopted similar arrangements during the Covid-19 pandemic when regular international flights were suspended, and thousands of expatriates were seeking ways to return home.