03-Feb-2011 9:03 AM

Air India operates another flight to Cairo to bring back stranded passengers

Direct News Source

02-Feb-2011 Air India today operated yet another flight to Cairo to bring back stranded Indians. A Boeing 747 – 400 aircraft, having a capacity of 423 seats, was operated as a “ferry flight” from Mumbai to Cairo for this purpose.

Considering the ground realities and taking a humane view, Air India will also be bringing passengers who give an undertaking to pay the air-fare on their arrival in India. The fare for the journey has been kept at the same level, as the previous flights, which would enable Air India ONLY to recover its costs.

This is the third special flight operated by Air India - an exercise initiated in tandem with Government advice - to bring home stranded Indians from Egypt. "The national carrier has always positively responded to such emergencies and it is its legacy to come to the aid of passengers in such situations" said an Air India spokesperson.

The flight AI 161 left Mumbai at 1440 Hrs to Cairo and is expected to arrive in Mumbai at 0400 Hrs on February 3, 2011. Earlier, Air India had operated two flights (On January 30 & 31) to Cairo to bring back 534 passengers, including 46 children and two infants, to Mumbai.

Air India always lives up to its obligation as a national carrier, in fulfilling the social responsibility during calamities and natural disasters. The role played by Air India during the Gulf evacuation, Bhuj earthquake, Tsunami in Southern States and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the recent snow fall in Leh in August 2010 etc are etched in the history of India.