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.
Iran attack
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.