Dubai, Feb 07: Threats by Indian expatriate workers to boycott Air-India in protest against ''high fares'' to Kerala destinations appears to have yielded results, with officials pledging to cut fares within 10 days. ''Air-India has promised to slash fares and provide improved services,'' an official of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of expatriates said after a meeting with Captain P P Singh, the airline's regional director for the Gulf, Middle East and Africa.
According to JAC chairman K P Muhammad Kutty, the offer includes restructuring the fares on direct flights to Calicut in line with the Jeddah-Bombay-Calicut route. According to travel industry sources, this would result in a cut in the price by Saudi Rayal 400.
The promises include reduction of child fares from 67 to 50 per cent, removal of penalties on cancelling bookings during Eid holidays and school vacations and posting of at least one Malayalam-speaking member as cabin staff on Jeddah-Calicut flights, the JAC said in a statement.
''In light of the recent decision by the Kerala government revoking fuel tariff on international flights, Air-India will take steps to reduce fares to destinations in the state proportionately,'' Singh said.
However, an Air-India official pointed out that action on the promises would be implemented only after receiving orders from the airline's management.
Keralites account for 70 per cent of the 1.6 million Indians working in Saudi Arabia and about 800 passengers travel on Air-India's four weekly flights to Calicut.
More than 80 per cent of Indian workers in the gulf earn less than 300 dollar a month and contribute to 25 per cent of Air-India's revenue.
The fares on the Kerala sectors touch a high of Dirham 3,000 during peak summer and holiday seasons. Bureau Report