Several tourists are now canceling their reservations to Kashmir Valley after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam claiming 26 lives. In response to rising concerns and travel uncertainty, Travel Portal EasemyTrip announced free rescheduling and cancellation of waivers for all bookings made before or before April 22, applicable to April 30.
Nishant Pitti, founder and chairman of EasemyTrip, said in a post on X: “To ensure flexibility, we have expanded the free changes and canceled waivers. We are fully committed to supporting customers who travel to and from Srinagar.
Budget airline Indigo joins the relief efforts, which it said it has waived cancellation and rescheduled fees for tickets booked by April 22. Additionally, the airline will operate two special flights on April 23, each from Delhi and Mumbai to promote the movement from Slinagal.
“In view of the current situation, we have added two special flights and waived the fees to minimize travel disruptions,” Indigo said on X.
National airlines Air India and low-cost airline SpiceJet have also expanded similar exemptions. Air India each flight to Delhi and Mumbai and offers full refunds and rescheduling. Spicejet confirmed in an update on its X that it is running additional flights and extends the exemption to April 30 for booking April 22.
Akasa Air and Air India Express are also joining, offering full refunds or rescheduling between April 23 and 30 without paying any fees.
Government surveillance of air tickets, adding more flights
In amid panic and rush to exit the valley, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced that other flights are being operated from Srinagar and that tickets are strictly monitored to prevent surges in pricing.
“As many as 3,337 passengers flew out of Srinagar between 6pm and 12pm today. We have issued instructions to keep the fare reasonable and avoid price surges,” Naidu said on X.
Indigo and Spicejet added three flights to Delhi on Wednesday, and other measures such as water and food were arranged at Srinagar Airport. An additional tent was set up outside the terminal to support waiting passengers.
The Civil Aviation Administration (DGCA) issued an inquiry directing airlines to increase the number of flights and ensure uninterrupted connectivity in Srinagar. “The purpose is to support the evacuation of tourists and to meet unexpected demands,” the consultation said.
Travel faces temporary setbacks
President of the Federation of Travel Agency (TAFI) Ajay Prakash acknowledged the negative impact of the terrorist incident on the tourism industry. “In the short term, J&K’s tourism industry will be hit hard. However, with TAFI’s assurance, we guarantee our continued support and are confident that the region will recover quickly.”
Industry gathered together
As the situation develops, the travel and aviation industries are working simultaneously to ensure passenger safety, planning flexibility, and seat availability. The unified response – from government departments to private operators – provides a powerful support system for affected visitors, designed to ease the blow of the tragedy that shook the valley.
