An MEA spokesman on Sunday said New Delhi was watching developments in Egypt with concern. “India has traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations with Egypt. We hope for an early and peaceful resolution of the situation without further violence and loss of lives,” the MEA spokesman added.
On Saturday, the MEA issued a travel advisory asking Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Egypt for some time.
An airline source noted that “there has been no request from the government to operate any more unscheduled commercial flights in the coming days but if such a request is made, Air India can operate more such flights”.
Currently, Air India does not operate any routine flights to Cairo. Sources said that predictably, few passengers travelled on the unscheduled commercial flight to Cairo in view of the chaos there while the flight back to India is expected to ferry hundreds of anxious passengers.
The fares being charged from the passengers are reasonable and in step with the fares that would usually be charged for the sector.
The implications of operating an unscheduled commercial flight would mean that Air India will bear the operating costs, in contrast to an evacuation or rescue flight where the government then would be expected to pay the Air India for the flight in spite the fact that the Indian government owns the national carrier.