NEW DELHI: Air India has waived ticket change charges for passengers booked on flights to Maldives for the fortnight during which emergency will remain imposed there.

Maldives has declared emergency+ from February 5 for 15 days.

Tour agencies have said that Indians are considering alternate options due to the current situation in Maldives. Airlines like SpiceJet, Air India and SriLankan, which fly to Male, say their flights are operating.

Daniel D’souza, SOTC’s head of sales, had recently told TOI: “Maldives conventionally is one of the most visited countries by Indian travellers…. Owing to the present situation, we haven’t observed a change in bookings and in travel plans as yet with customers. However, alternate destinations such as Phuket, Srilanka, Bali, Cambodia and Philippines (Cebu) are being explored by travelers.”
The government of Maldives also issued a statement to assure travelers.
“The president of Maldives has declared a state of emergency in the Maldives starting from February 5, 2018, for the next 15 days. The government assures tourism and travel trade that all tourism related businesses will be operating as usual and the situation in the Maldives remains stable. The state of emergency does not force any restrictions on travelling to the Maldives or within the Maldives. All international and domestic airports, tourist resorts, tourist hotels, tourist guest houses, tourist accommodating vessels (safari boats), marinas are in full operation. International and domestic flights, sea plane operations and all modes of transport are in operation. Public safety is of paramount importance and the government assures the safety of the destination,” Maldives’ ministry of tourism had said in a statement.
Source : timesofindia