Hyderabad, April 22: A worried 24-year-old Pavan Kumar spends most of his time following the hourly weather updates from Europe. This Manchester University student on a vacation in the city had booked his flight to the UK for April 18 but has been stranded since, thanks to the volcanic ash clouds in Iceland. “I have course work and a project to submit on May 1. My return is still uncertain and that makes me tense.
I am just hoping the situation improves so that I can fly back as soon as possible.” After almost a week of cancellation of flights to Europe over weather uncertainty, hapless travellers from the city, mostly UK-bound, are still confused on their travel status.
For some like Shikhara Reddy, it is weather playing spoilsport with her vacation plans.
“I wanted to go for a week to Europe on a vacation. But after seeing the weather conditions and the government advisory to travel only if necessary, I decided against taking the trip.” Though the Heathrow Airport reopened on Wednesday and a few flights are resuming, it is still unclear when and how the airlines will clear the huge backlog of passengers.
However, a lucky few like the newly- wedded Shashikala, whose husband stays in London, have found a seat soon. “I had a ticket booked for April 20 that got cancelled. Now, I have confirmation from the British Airways for an April 24 flight but even that is subject to last-minute cancellation.” Though glad she got a ticket, she shares her anguish about not getting the right information from any source. “I have been trying for infor on cancelled flights or their reschedule but none is available. While the local airport is ill-equipped to handle queries on Europe-bound flights, the British Airways website is down,” she complained.
Despite availability of alternate routes, many are apprehensive of taking them as it will not only mean almost doubling the travel time but also changing flights at different destinations.
“I do not want to get stuck in an unknown place and sleep in the airport if further flights are cancelled.
It is also doubtful if I can get a transit visa in such a case. I would rather wait for a few days more and travel in the normal route,” said K Anjith Reddy, a UK resident-visa holder who works for a telecom company in Newcastle.
–Agencies