India-UAE flights: Bookings to Dubai reopen from some Indian cities

Dubai - Travel from India was suspended on April 24.

Flight bookings from several Indian cities have re-opened to Dubai from July 15, as per the websites of some airlines. However, UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has maintained its status quo on the indefinite suspension of inbound passengers from India until further notice.

Also read:

>> 73 Aster medics return in special Emirates flights

>> Expats anxious to board first flight back

Over 140 passengers from India arrive on a special charter flight

Economy class tickets on Emirates are sold out. The ticket prices for Emirates Business and First Class for July 16, are Dh7,500 (Rs148,900) and Dh8,147(Rs165,353) respectively. Ticket bookings for flydubai will open on July 27. The price of an Economy Class ticket on the airline will cost Dh1,645 (Rs33,892).

Don't miss:

Suspension on inbound passenger flights until July 15, says Emirates

Stranded expats eye charter flights as last resort

The Vistara Airline website has put the Mumbai-Dubai ticket price at Dh895, with only a few seats available for July 15 and 16. Indigo Airlines has also opened bookings on their website with fares from Mumbai starting at Dh850 for a connecting flight, and Dh1,100 for a direct flight on July 16.

Covid in Dubai: 8 countries from where Emirates flights are suspended

Budget Indian carrier SpiceJet has also opened ticket bookings on their website. Kozhikode to Dubai ticket prices for July 16 start at Dh1,960. SpiceJet's Mangalore to Dubai flight on July 17 is priced at Dh2,092.

Khaleej Times spoke to a few of travellers who have booked tickets to fly to Dubai.

Shahdab Ali, a sales executive in Dubai, has been stranded in his hometown in India ever since he gone there for his annual vacation.He made an online booking for SpiceJet's Mangalore-Dubai flight on July 17. “Soon as I heard the news of flights reopening, I checked several travel websites. I managed to get hold of a ticket after trying a few times,” he said.

“Now that the ticket has been issued, I am really hoping to reach Dubai,” he added.

Another expat, Faisal Alam Fakarde, has booked SpiceJet flight tickets for himself, and his family members, from Mangalore to Dubai. “We got the news that flights to Dubai will start on June 17. I quickly went to the SpiceJet webpage and booked tickets. Earlier, after speaking to airline staff, I had rescheduled my flight a couple of times due to the travel suspension date changing,” Faisal said.

“Now that I have booked tickets for July 17, I hope we don’t have to postpone our travel further,” he added.

Travel agents in India have been deluged with inquiries after the latest announcement about India-Dubai flights.