Tourism Secretary Urges Airlines to Waive off Rescheduling/ Cancellation Charges for Stranded Tourists

Port Blair, Dec. 16: The Secretary (Tourism), A&N Administration, Shri Yashpal Garg in a letter addressed to the Station Managers of Air India, Go Air, Spicejet, Vistara and Indigo, Port Blair, a copy of which has been forwarded to the press, has requested for waiving off rescheduling/ cancellation charges of air tickets for tourists stranded in the Isles due to bad weather over A&N Islands.

The letter states that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is under influence of Depression w.e.f Dec 13, 2018, due to which, the Islands are experiencing strong winds and high tides throughout the day. Such situation is expected to continue till Dec. 16, 2018.

The Secretary further mentioned that a few hundred tourists are on visit to outer Islands which are connected to Port Blair by sea ferry services. Due to bad weather, the ferry services to and from the outer Islands have been disrupted. Though, the Shipping Department is making all out sincere efforts, to bring back the tourists from the outer islands, but due to inclement weather, the efforts are getting delayed. Hence, many tourists may not be able to avail their flights departing to mainland from Port Blair and would require rescheduling/cancellation of their flight tickets because of the circumstances beyond their control, the letter added.

In view of these extraordinary circumstances, the Secretary (Tourism) has urged the airlines that the rescheduling/ cancellation charges for tourists may be waived off and they may be accommodated in alternative flights on priority. 

In response to the request, all airlines (except Air India) are allowing the rescheduling of air tickets free of cost. Air India is waiting for a decision from their Head Quarters and will make the refunds thereafter.