Summer Travel Plans Disrupted by West Asia Conflict and Soaring Costs
International travel plans have been severely impacted this summer, with passengers encountering skyrocketing fares, reduced flight availability, and limited destination choices amid the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran. Domestic travel has also become more expensive, as airlines contend with rising fuel prices, a decline in international traffic, and the imposition of additional surcharges.
Double Blow to Kerala's Tourism Sector
The crisis in West Asia has delivered a double whammy to Kerala, forcing residents to spend more on overseas holidays during the school vacation and post-election period. Simultaneously, inbound domestic tourism is suffering from high airfares and reduced amenities due to an LPG shortage. The Gulf, a popular summer destination for Keralites visiting friends and relatives, has largely been excluded from travel plans this year due to Iranian retaliatory strikes disrupting flight schedules across the region.
Flight Cancellations and Surging Airfares
At Thiruvananthapuram airport, airlines have been cancelling 5-9 arrivals and 7-9 departures daily in recent days. With services failing to meet demand, Gulf Air is planning to operate a relief or charter flight from Dammam on March 22. As a result, airfares have surged dramatically:
- Return tickets to Dubai are now priced at Rs 40,000-Rs 80,000, compared to Rs 26,000-Rs 55,000 early next month.
- Fares to London range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 2 lakh, Paris from Rs 64,000 to Rs 85,000, and non-stop flights to Singapore cost around Rs 80,000.
- Tickets to Kuala Lumpur next month vary between Rs 20,000 and Rs 80,000.
Sources indicate that fares to Southeast Asia remain elevated as travellers to and from the US and Canada prefer flying via Singapore, given the disruptions in Dubai.
Shift in Travel Patterns and Growing Anxiety
Travel operators report that many are shifting holiday plans to Southeast Asia and the Far East, though uncertainty persists, with countries like Thailand beginning to face fuel shortages. Sejoe Jose of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) noted, "Group travellers are still opting for Europe, flying via Delhi to take direct connections to London and Frankfurt. SriLankan Airlines is also operating from Colombo." He added that travel demand remains steady despite soaring fares, compelling people to spend more on flights and accommodation.
M K Ajit Kumar of the India Tourism Forum highlighted growing anxiety among travellers, stating, "People fear getting stranded abroad and are avoiding the Gulf for holidays. The impact of the war is being felt at multiple levels, including fuel shortages in countries like Thailand and Sri Lanka." Concerns for relatives in the Gulf are also discouraging leisure travel, and uncertainty over return flights has led to the cancellation of some inbound tours planned for the coming months.
