KOCHI: Around 300 pilgrims from Kerala who are desirous of attending the canonisation of Mother Teresa are currently at the mercy of national carrier Air India, to take the long route to Rome.
With no seats available in most of the airlines, owing to the flow of Gulf Malayalis returning after vacation, the pilgrims’ search for the most suitable route ended at Air India.
The shortest flight route to Vatican, where the canonisation ceremony is scheduled to be held on September 4, is via Dubai. Due to non-availability of seats, travel agents are considering an alternative route to Rome from Kochi, via Delhi.
“The problem with the route is that Air India operates low-capacity aircraft in the Kochi-Delhi sector. It could be solved if Air India operates flights with larger capacity in the first week of September,” said ITL Holidays, Kochi, general manager Abraham Joseph.
Though the Kochi station of Air India has asked its headquarters to allot high-capacity aircraft in the Kochi-Delhi route, considering requests from travel agents, it has not elicited any response yet.
“Usually, the 180-seat Airbus (A321) is the used for the Kochi-Delhi service. Considering the special demand, we has requested for the 260-seat Boeing Dreamliner, but no decision has been taken on it yet,” said Air India-Kochi station manager Patrick Xavier.
“Pilgrims from Kerala will be travelling in groups. Airlines are not showing much interest in their case as group passengers have to be given discounts, which is not economical in peak season.
“If the pilgrims could be flown to Delhi and then to Rome, it would the cheapest route. We also considered carrying passengers to Delhi in a different carrier, and from there in Air India’s Delhi-Rome flight.
“But, it would result in cost escalation by `10,000. If the pilgrims could travel up to Rome by the the same airline, it would reduce cost. If they travel entirely by Air India, the trip would cost `45,000. If they fly to Delhi in a different airline and then board an Air India flight to Rome, the cost would be `55,000,” pointed out Abraham Joseph.
“Intervention of the Central Government is essential to have a solution in favour of the Malayali pilgrims,” he added.