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Emirates to get financial aid from Dubai govt, as airlines struggle globally

Dubai has promised financial assistance for state-owned carrier Emirates as various international airlines look for government bailouts amid the corona virus pandemic. The government will inject new equity into the carrier, one of the world’s leading long-haul airlines, during this “critical period”, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the crown prince, said in a statement, according a Financial Times report. Dubai is the latest government to intervene in the sector reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. The global airline industry will burn through $61bn of their cash reserves during the second quarter of this year, according to the latest forecast from its trade body. IATA, the industry trade body, on Tuesday warned carriers are facing an “enormous cash problem” and face a net loss of $39bn in the three months to end of June. The cash outlook comes just a week after IATA warned the pandemic would slash airline revenues by $250bn this year. Governments around the world have been launching rescue packages for the aviation industry, including a US stimulus bill that earmarked $58bn in loans and guarantees for US airlines. Singapore has put together a $13bn rescue package for its national carrier. Regional rival Qatar Airways has also said its cash reserves are running low and it would soon have to approach its government shareholder for assistance. Sheikh Hamdan said Emirates was of strategic importance to the economies of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, playing “a key role in positioning Dubai as a major international aviation hub”. Similar to other airlines, Emirates has been hit hard by global travel restrictions and reduced demand. Scheduled passenger flights were suspended last week from its home base at Dubai airport, which is usually the world’s busiest in terms of international passenger traffic. The airline has grounded much of its fleet, placed employees on unpaid leave and cut the salaries of its 105,000 workforce by up to a half, Financial Times reported.

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Foreign tourists' queries flood 'Stranded in India' portal

The Ministry of Tourism has received over 500 requests from foreign tourists on its 'Stranded in India' portal which it launched on March 31, the ministry said in a statement. A majority of queries have been about information on travelling back to their home countries or for extension of their visas to stay in India due to their inability to return home in the wake of the nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown. The foreign tourists stuck in small towns and rural areas in India have also sought information on how to reach metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai from where they can take flights back to their own countries once the lockdown is over, the ministry said. The ministry said it is also providing assistance to tourists and addressing their queries in coordination with and support of the Ministry of External Affairs and state officials. The tourism ministry has also been coordinating with embassies regarding problems faced by foreign tourists. "A majority of the requests received from foreign tourists are about seeking information for travelling back to their home countries and also looking at extension of the visas to stay in India while they cannot travel back. "The other issue being faced by tourists travelling within India is reaching metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai from where flights can be taken out of India once lockdown gets lifted," it said. The Tourism Ministry said that it is working actively with state officials to provide a solution for problems being faced by foreign tourists while emergency requests like the need for food, medicine and care for elderly tourists are being expedited. The Hotels and Restaurant Division of the Tourism Ministry has been in constant touch with several hotels which are accommodating guests during the lockdown and coordinating with the embassies regarding problems faced by the guests if any. Hotels are being requested to follow protocol and extend their support till the departure of such guests are arranged by the embassies, the ministry said. The ministry has set up a task force comprising of its officials, both at the central and regional levels and representatives of the state tourism departments, to address the issues being brought forward in real-time. The coordination group is working through WhatsApp, emails and telephones to ensure smooth information flow and speedy redressal of issues. It also has a round-the-clock helpline -- 1363 -- which is also ensuring correct and updated information to the tourists.

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Yatra launches special stay packages for healthcare workers

NEW DELHI: Online travel agent Yatra.com on Thursday announced that it has tied up with its hotel partners and chains to offer special stay packages for essential services workers and healthcare professionals who are leading the fight against covid-19. At the time of check-in, essential service workers and healthcare professionals need to provide their valid staff ID cards to avail this service. Yatra.com also launched ‘Yatra Service Assured’ Packages for its customers for future travel ensuring that all precautionary measures are in place. Dhruv Shringi, co-founder and CEO, Yatra.com, said, “We salute the contribution of the brave heroes from medical fraternity, all first responders and essential service workers who are leading the fight against Covid-19 pandemic with strength and courage. To contribute to their tireless service, we wish to provide them with comfortable and secure stay and, thus, have made available hotel at special prices for them." The Yatra Service Assured Packages includes hotel services with 24x7 emergency help line number, travel insurance, sanitized vehicles, flexible check-in and checkout, meals prepared in hygienic conditions, and quality transport services for the convenience of the customers. The package comes with cancellation fee waiver, 100% instant refund and free child travel. The package is applicable for bookings till March 2021 for stays in Himachal Pradesh, Andamans, the northeast, Ladakh, Kerala, southern India and Goa.

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GoAir extends ticket credit scheme for passengers till April 30

NEW DELHI: GoAir on Thursday announced an extension of its ticket credit scheme, which allows passengers who don't show up for a flight to use the fare amount on any booking within a year, from April 15 to April 30. "Even if the customer does not show up between 19th March 2020 and 30th April 2020 (at the airport), GoAir will automatically protect the customer's ticket and fare for travel on any future date until 30th April 2021," a press statement by the airline said. India is under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 to combat the coronavirus; all domestic and international commercial passenger flights stand suspended during the period. However, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, offshore helicopter operations and flights specially permitted by aviation regulator DGCA can operate during this time period. GoAir had last week said this ticket credit scheme was available for bookings done till April 15 only. "Customers can use their PNR and value of the ticket for travel on a future date until April 30, 2021 for any GoAir sector," the statement said.

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Insurers offer relief to travel insurance policyholders

Travel policies issued by insurers such as Bajaj Allianz General and ICICI Lombard can be extended up to 180 days by paying an additional premium With continued rise in coronavirus infections worldwide, your planned vacation abroad may have come to a screeching halt. While airlines offer the option of rescheduling your flight tickets, travel insurers also allow you to reschedule your policy as per your travel dates. According to a recent circular by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the insurance regulator in the country, those travel insurance policies which are valid between March 22 and April 30, 2020, can have the option to defer the date of travel without any additional charge. Further, some of the insurers also allow you to cancel your travel policy, waiving policy cancellation charges. Travel policies from insurers including ICICI Lombard, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, HDFC Ergo and SBI General, as per IRDAI’s circular, offer to reschedule the policy free of charge. That is, those policyholders who are postponing their trips can reschedule their travel insurance policies to match the travel timelines. You can communicate the same to the insurer via digital platforms ― email, WhatsApp or by using Chatbot services or through your agents. Further, if you (policyholder) wish to cancel your travel insurance (due to cancellation of your trip), insurers such as ICICI Lombard and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance offer to refund your premium, and cancel your policy free of cost. For instance, travel policies of ICICI Lombard charge ₹300 as cancellation charges. Similarly, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance charges a minimum of ₹224 (excluding taxes) towards cancellation of policy. This fee has been waived due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, some insurers may charge policyholders for cancelling their travel policy. Ashutosh Shrotriya, Head, Products & Business Process, Religare Health Insurance, says, “IRDAI’s circular mentions only deferment of travel policy without any additional charges. Besides this, other policy changes will have to be serviced as per terms and conditions of the policy.” If you are a student or tourist who had travelled abroad before the coronavirus outbreak and had to stay abroad due to the travel restrictions, you can extend your policies. This feature, which is available in all travel insurance policies, can come in handy for those people who are stuck and unable to travel home. But keep in mind that your policy can only be extended before the expiry of your existing policy. Travel policies issued by insurers such as Bajaj Allianz General and ICICI Lombard can be extended up to 180 days by paying an additional premium. But Religare Health Insurance travel policy (Explore) provides an option to extend the policy for 365 days. Gurdeep Singh Batra, Head, Retail Underwriting, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, says, “Bajaj Allianz General Insurance is providing extensions to travel policies, if someone has already travelled and is unable to travel back due to the current situation. However, travel policies will exclude Covid-19 cover in view of declared advisory by government agencies and in line with policy terms and conditions.” But some insurers do offer cover for Covid-19 through travel policy, provided you are hospitalised for a minimum period. For instance, ICICI Lombard’s travel policy, hospitalisation expenses (both in-patient and out-patient) will be payable in case the insured is hospitalised (for a minimum period of three days) in the destination country due to Covid-19. Similarly, Religare Health Insurance’s travel policy also provides cover for all emergency medical/hospitalisation expenses. If your flight is cancelled or your trip is delayed (due to flight operators) you can claim with your insurer on the same. Most of the travel policies in the industry provide comprehensive coverages for key medical and non-medical expenses (including baggage delay and baggage lost, flight delay, flight cancellation and trip curtailment). Consider the case of trip cancellation. Insurers will pay for this cover, provided it is cancelled due to earthquake or other natural disasters, terrorism and personal contingencies including death or hospitalisation of immediate family member. For instance, claims from travel policies of ICICI Lombard will be payable for financial loss incurred by the policyholder if the trip is cancelled or interrupted due to death/hospitalisation of the insured’s immediate family member (including medical emergencies related to Covid-19).

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PATA launches Crisis Resource Center and Tourism Recovery Monitor

BANGKOK - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced the launch of the PATA Crisis Resource Center and Tourism Recovery Monitor, a unified platform that provides reliable and up-to-date policy statements, authoritative information, and tourism indicators from around the globe. The aim is to provide a global centralised repository of reliable information for users based on their needs. The PATA Crisis Resource Center is a result of a pilot Expert Task Force (ETF) led by PATA Immediate Past Chair Sarah Mathews to accumulate knowledge, generate support, and help members and industry stakeholders across the globe access solutions by governments, while also assisting governments in understanding the challenges through the travel impact survey. PATA Vice Chair Soon Hwa Wong also led an ETF to establish the PATA Tourism Recovery Monitor, an integrated resource for strategic tourism planners and decision makers to keep fully abreast of the fast changing environment. Both initiatives are housed under one microsite. Ms Mathews said, “The travel and tourism industry has weathered many different types of crises; however, the current unprecedented pandemic poses a severe threat to the entire industry impacting the economic livelihood of millions of people around the world. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) up to 75 millions jobs are at immediate risk globally, while travel and tourism GDP loss to the world economy is up to US$2.1 trillion. Therefore, I felt it was critical that we brought together global crisis experts like Damian Cook of E-Tourism Frontiers, Willem Niemeijer of YAANA Ventures, and Greg Klassen of Twenty31 to help create a long term Crisis Resource Center. The center will be a unified source of information for travel and tourism organisations to find solutions to the current crisis.” “We are launching with two key areas of focus; one is to house all the efforts across the globe by governments who have and are providing aid, relief, and support for their industry stakeholders within the resource center. Secondly, we are asking for the industry to complete a business impact survey in order to use those results to request for more government support for our industry. Whilst the current focus is on COVID-19 as a public health issue, the goal is to establish a long term resource center for the industry to utilize when we face any future crisis. The travel and tourism industry is incredibly resilient, and travel will continue to inspire millions of people across the world,” she added. "In crisis management, we need to have the latest status of the situation. For post crisis recovery planning, we need reliable data, updates and developing trends at our disposal. Timing is everything especially when it relates to the execution of recovery efforts. Too early could result in a complete waste of resources. Too late could risk being one of the last off the starting block,” said Mr Wong. “The PATA Tourism Recovery Monitor (PTRM) is designed to be the go-to resource for strategic tourism planners and decision makers to keep fully abreast of the fast changing environment. Being the trusted voice of the industry, PATA has brought together an array of experts and partners to share valuable data, content and trends of leading tourism indicators to help us spot "green shoots" as soon as they start to appear. PTRM is a product of a new initiative recently announced known as the Expert Task Force (ETF) where PATA members can propose short term solutions to fix immediate challenges or introduce innovative and effective enhancements to help the association and members do better business. I am very happy to take the lead on this and encourage our members to do likewise going forward." The PATA Crisis Resource Center and Tourism Recovery Monitor collates reliable data and information to assist all industry stakeholders as they deal with the current crisis. The Association is currently asking governments, and international and national organisations to seek their assistance in collecting information on aid and relief packages available to businesses in their respective destinations. In addition, PATA will add further data and information that will be useful to organisations as they deal with the current situation. While this is a much needed resource, PATA cannot do this alone and is encouraging governments, partners, members and, international and national associations and organisations to assist the Association and support this initiative

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