Gulf flight cancellations continue for 5th day; Trichy issues helplines

Trichy: With flights to the Gulf remaining suspended amid the Iran–Israel conflict, Trichy International Airport on Wednesday announced dedicated helplines to assist passengers affected by cancellations.For the fifth consecutive day, services to three destinations in the UAE were cancelled, leading to a sharp fall in international passenger traffic. Airport sources said international footfall has dropped by 10–25% daily since the disruptions began. Officials said passengers can contact 0431-2341755, 0431-2341766, and 93116-20097 for real-time updates on flight status. Six services operated by Air India Express — to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah — were cancelled on Wednesday. The disruptions have continued since Feb 28. The impact has extended beyond international routes. Domestic passenger traffic to cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram has also fallen by nearly 25% as of March 3, airport sources said. Some passengers have been travelling to metro airports to board connecting flights to destinations such as Riyadh and Doha, which are not directly linked to Trichy. Meanwhile, Trichy MP Durai Vaiko wrote to external affairs minister S Jaishankar, urging the Centre to facilitate the safe return of Indians stranded in the Middle East. In his letter, he sought assistance for tourists and expatriates, including those hoping to return home for Ramadan, who have been affected by the flight cancellations. MSID:: 129034123 413 |