India-U.K flight charges exorbitant; official alerts Civil Aviation Ministry

As it has been found that airline companies are charging exorbitant fares for U.K routes, a government official on Saturday interrupted and alerted the Civil Aviation Ministry about the issue.

It is in the wake of the student peak season, the airline companies are charging heavy fares for U.K routes. Britain’s new decision which eased travel restrictions on India from status ‘red’ to ‘amber’ also has reportedly made the charges go high.

Sanjeev Gupta, secretary at the ministry of home affairs, raised the issue on his twitter post.

“Fare of ?3.95 lakh one way Delhi to London on Aug 26. No, it’s not 1st class. It’s economy on @British_Airways @airindiain @airvistara etc. also 1.2 to 2.3 lakh. College admission time! See minimum fare on @GoogleTravel in August. Have alerted Secretary @MoCA_GoI @JM_Scindia,” tweeted Gupta.

Fare of ₹ 3.95 lakh one way Delhi to London on Aug 26. No, it's not 1st class. It's economy on @British_Airways. @airindiain @airvistara etc. also 1.2 to 2.3 lakh. College admission time! See minimum fare on @GoogleTravel in August. Have alerted Secretary @MoCA_GoI. @JM_Scindia pic.twitter.com/uxFF8dgaLk

— Sanjeev Gupta (@sanjg2k1) August 7, 2021

The United Kingdom had changed the travel restriction status imposed on India from ‘Red’ to ‘Amber. It is due to the decreasing number of Covid-19 cases in India.

As India has been moved from the UK’s red to amber list, fully vaccinated travelers are no longer required to undergo hotel quarantine for 10 days, and can remain in home isolation. However, entering the UK from India requires three Covid-19 tests — the first, at least three days prior to departure; the second, on the day of arrival or before Day 2; and the third, on or after Day 8. Home quarantine for 10 days is also mandatory.

India was previously on the red list due to the second wave of Covid-19 in the country. This meant British nationals or residents in India can only be traveled to the U.K.

For UK nationals who are fully vaccinated, neither quarantine nor the Day 8 test are required according to amber list restrictions.