For a better experience, Read this story in our App
TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Connect With Us
Get BusinessLine apps on
Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner lies at the site where the Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad | Photo Credit: AMIT DAVE
Air India may see a temporary dip in bookings as anxious customers put off their travel plans following the Ahmedabad air crash on Thursday, travel firms said.
“There will be some anxiety among travellers until the accident investigation is completed. We are seeing a dip in forward bookings on Air India as some customers are postponing travel. This is natural after a tragic accident,” said Jyoti Mayal, former president of the Travel Agents Association of India.
Mayal, however, sees a temporary impact on air travel demand. “By nature Indians are resilient, and we don’t see a long-term impact on travel,” she said.
“For a few days there will be negative sentiment about India, but it will subside with time. Air India is run by the Tata Group, and it is brand that Indian consumers trust, so we don’t see a long term impact,” added Madhav Oza, Director, Blue Star Air Travel Services.
A London-bound Air India Boeing 787 crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday killing 229 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft’s flight data recorder was recovered on Friday afternoon. The civil aviation regulator has also ordered enhanced checks on Air India’s Boeing 787 aircraft.
While the regulatory action will help enhance customer confidence, ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel are proving a dampener for air travel. On Thursday, Air India flight to/from Europe and US diverted or turned back to their base following the closure of Iranian airspace. A bomb scare on an Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight on Thursday also added to the tensions.
Thomas Cook said it is working with its airline partners on rescheduled/diverted flights and supporting our customers via central tour management team. “We are closely monitoring the situation to keep our business and leisure customers updated,” a spokesperson said.
Ravi Gosain, president of Indian Association of Tour Operators, said the authorities to investigate the cause of the Ahmedabad air crash and take measures to prevent the repeat of such incidents.
Published on June 13, 2025
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.