Air India’s transaction with three Delhi based travel agencies, Air View Services – Barakhamba Road, Real Fly Tour & Travels –Jangpura and Friends Ticketing Hub –Lajpat Nagar has been suspended after the agencies were exposed in a sting-operation for black-marketing of Vande Bharat tickets on various sectors.
Reacting to the sting operation which exposed the black-marketing of Vande Bharat tickets at a very higher price, Air India said “We have zero tolerance for such malpractices and have already warned our agents on 29th July of strict action for any such fare overcharging. It has been brought to our notice that some travel agents are charging higher than Air India’s listed fares for certain Vande Bharat sectors. Air India’s transactions through the above three agents are suspended with immediate effect.”
Air India has urged its passengers to report any such irregularities so that the officials can take suitable action against such agents. The airline has suggested its passengers earlier on 29th and 31st July to check fare chart on its website, and informed its authorities in case anyone has purchased tickets at a higher rate through a travel agent.
Air India has launched Vande Bharat Mission for the passenger stranded overseas during the lockdown due to the spread out of COVID-19. Government of India started Vande Bharat Mission – one of the largest initiatives to repatriate nationals back to India, on 7th May 2020.
Under this mission, Ministry of Civil Aviation was coordinating with Ministry of External Affairs and state Governments for bringing Indians back to their homeland. According to latest official data, more than a million Indian’s have been brought back home and mora than 130,000 flown out on Air India’s Vande Bharat flights.
