IAAI Demands To Make VBM Flights Bookable For Indian Travel Agents

The Association has asked the national carrier to extend the facility currently available for travel agents in UAE to be extended to Indian counterparts as well
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IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) has asked Air India and Air India Express to extend the facility of booking Vande Bharat mission flight seats through accredited travel agents in India.

The Association has asked the national carrier to extend the facility currently available for travel agents in UAE to be extended to Indian counterparts as well.

Travel agencies play a vital role in promoting the airline’s market share. 80% of the industry’s tickets are sold by agents and the Agents in India always supported Air India and Air India Express in their good and bad days. Hence IAAI requests both the carriers, AI and IX, to provide ticketing facilities to the accredited Travel Agents in India and make them also a part of this great Vande Bharat mission,” stated Biji Eapen, President, IAAI, in its official press release.

Here is the Official Press Release by IAAI:

“At the outset, we appreciate national carrier Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express for the remarkable and commendable efforts in bringing back Indian nationals stranded abroad in various countries around the world. And are continuing their mission.

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Accordingly, AI and IX published their flight schedules and announced that it will be accepting eligible passengers who are desirous of travelling abroad to the selected destinations as per the norms published and open to passengers to make reservations through their respective websites.

The new normal has made both Air India and Air India express to grant special permissions to all authorized Travel Agents in UAE to take part in this evacuation program. Travel Agents in UAE are now allowed to issue tickets for Indian nationals who all are registered on the website of the Indian Consulates and fulfill the required entry conditions and desires to be repatriated by Vande Bharat Mission fights to India.

Travel agencies play a vital role in promoting the airline’s market share. Eighty per cent t of the industry’s tickets are sold by agents and the Agents in India always supported Air India and Air India Express in their good and bad days. Hence IAAI requested both the carriers to provide ticketing facilities to the accredited Travel Agents in India and make them also a part of this great Vande Bharat mission.

Provision to issue tickets in India will be a blessing for many of the Indians stranded in foreign countries jobless and without money to buy air tickets, can get help from their families or relatives in India. Many such families are in constant touch with our travel agencies looking for the provision to send air tickets to bring their relatives back to India and this will also helpful for the outbound passengers traveling from India to foreign countries, as many are clueless for a way out.

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IAAI officially requested to CMD, Air India, CEO of Air India Express and CEO, Indigo airlines in this regard and look forward to a favourable reply from their end.

Further, with reference to the DGCA circular of 3rd July 2020, empowering the competent authority to allow international scheduled flights on selected routes case to case basis, we also wrote to the ministry of civil aviation and DGCA to understand the gravity of the present challenges and complexities due to

the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the continuing lockdowns, and requested to take necessary steps to allow all authorized Indian Travel Agents to issue tickets on all flights operating to/from India under our great national move Vande Bharat Mission or evacuation/repatriation program.

In a statement by Advocate Jose Abraham, Pravasi Legal Cell Global President commented that “Facilities to issue tickets from India will be a great relief and support to many of our Indian community (Pravasi) stranded aboard without jobs and money”. He also requested all concerned authorities to take appropriate steps to implement this process urgently.”

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Earlier, IAAI initiated an E-Signature campaign with Pravasi Legal Cell for the Petition ‘Refund all charges associated with airline tickets issued prior and during the COVID-19 lockdown period in India.’


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Also Read – How To Book IndiGo Repatriation Flight

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Manish Khandelwal
Manish Khandelwal

Manish Khandelwal, a travel-tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travelobiz.com, he's passionate about writing.

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