Airlines

Etihad offloads US-bound passengers, Indian students pay over two lakh for new tickets on other airlines

Numerous passengers, the majority of whom were students, who made reservations to travel to the US on Thursday from places similar to Mumbai and Bengaluru had their flights offloaded and their reservations cancelled by Etihad Airways. The airline allegedly refused to rebook the students on other flights with departure dates in the coming days. Since semesters are about to begin, the students have no choice but to pay out nearly two lakh rupees for a last-minute, one-way ticket on other carriers.

The cheapest one-way flight from Mumbai to the US for travel this week started at Rs. 1.40 lakh, but these flights were almost 27 hours long. The majority of tickets cost over Rs 2 lakh. The Abu Dhabi-New York flight operated by Etihad followed the same route and used the same type of aircraft, the A350, for a nearly comparable flight time. Abu Dhabi’s floor temperature wasn’t higher than usual. But over the last two days, its flights have started leaving late. On August 2, and again on August 3, Etihad’s EY101 aircraft from Abu Dhabi to New York took off with a five- and two-hour delay, respectively. Only one hour was added to the Thursday flight’s delay.

In order to minimise the inconvenience to the impacted customers, Etihad claimed that its groups are reaching out to advise them about the refused boarding. “We regret any difficulty caused by this last-minute change, and we will be providing compensation to anyone affected,” it said, adding that affected passengers should call their contact centre or visit their website or mobile app.

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Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.