• August 9, 2021

London-Kochi direct return tickets costs around £1,000: Air India replies to news of increase in air fares

London-Kochi direct return tickets costs around £1,000: Air India replies to news of increase in air fares

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON Aug 9: Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) and Air India have joined hands to relaunch direct London services from Kochi after the United Kingdom (UK) moved India from its Red to Amber list, a categorisation created for facilitating international travel during pandemic times.

Accordingly, Air India will operate Heathrow-Kochi-Heathrow services on Wednesdays from August 18, said a communication from CIAL on Saturday. With the commencement of services to London, thousands of stranded expatriates will be able to travel between India and the UK from August 18. The flight will take 10 hours from Kochi to reach Heathrow.

“Tickets are available for direct flights to Kochi and return as of today and its available till October 2021. The rates are dependant on the day of return due to the peak season when there is a huge demand. Flying out and returning before mid September may cost between £900 and £1,000”, Neil Travel & Tours (020 8548 1210) informed this website.

Rules for entering Kerala

Entering the UK from places on the amber list 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.

For UK nationals who are fully vaccinated, neither quarantine nor the Day 8 test are required. People who have been fully vaccinated in the United States or many European countries will not need to quarantine when they arrive in England or take the Day 8 test.

Air India defends prices increase

Air India has come out by querying allegations on it increasing air fare prices during the month of August, following countries easing travel restrictions.

The matter came into light after Sanjeev Gupta, Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat, Union Home Ministry on Saturday raised the issue on Twitter that an economy-class ticket on British Airways’s Delhi-London flight for August 26 was priced ₹3.95 lakh.

Aviation regulator DGCA on learning about the massive surge in flight prices between India and the UK, has asked the airlines to submit details about the airfares they have been charging, according to a senior official.

Air India Tweeted: “The tweeter is misinformed about the fares to London and is creating an erroneous impression. Air India is currently operating 13 weekly flts from India to London to/from six Indian cities. Fares differ depending on dates of travel, route, advance purchase etc. Currently, seats for travel in August are available in Economy in the range of 1.15 lakhs.
Our average fares continue to remain as usual without any upward revision”