KLIA passengers in limbo as flights scrapped over India-Pakistan conflict
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(From left) Travellers Jaskirat Singh, Tushar Thamman, Pushkar Thaman, Mohit Bagga after their flight to Amritsar was cancelled at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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PETALING JAYA - About a dozen Indian travellers were stranded at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after flights were scrapped due to the tensions between India and Pakistan
The passengers, bound for Amritsar in India, claimed their flights were cancelled at the last minute, and they were forced to pay out of pocket to change their tickets and head to New Delhi.
They also claimed that their airline did not provide proper accommodation arrangements.
Mr Tushar Thaman, 18, a student visiting Malaysia for the first time, said the group only found out about the cancellation when they arrived at the airport and were asked to switch flights.
“I am a student and I was here for a week-long trip. I don’t have extra money to pay for a change in flights. I had to borrow money from a friend.
“There are 12 of us, and we feel helpless. We had to spend around RM1,000 (S$304) each to change our tickets,” he said yesterday.
He added that other affected passengers were given accommodation, but their group was not.
Another student, Mr Mohit Bagga, 24, said they had run out of money and had no place to stay after changing their tickets.
“We have to sleep at the airport tonight and wait for tomorrow’s flight,” he said, adding that they are unsure how they will get home after they reach New Delhi.
Malaysian carriers have rerouted flights and even suspended flights due to the closure of Pakistani airspace and escalating regional tensions.
Malaysia Airlines has rerouted two of its long-haul flights, with flights MH2 to London and MH22 to Paris diverted on May 6 for a refuelling stop in Doha, Qatar, before continuing to their destinations.
It also confirmed the temporary suspension of flights to and from Amritsar after authorities closed Amritsar Airport from May 7 to 9.
Batik Air has also announced the cancellation of several flights to and from Lahore, Pakistan, and Amritsar.
The airline confirmed that flights on May 7 and 8 have been affected.
The affected flights are OD131 from Kuala Lumpur to Lahore, OD132 from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur, OD271 from Kuala Lumpur to Amritsar, and OD272 from Amritsar to Kuala Lumpur.
AirAsia Malaysia has also temporarily suspended flights to and from Amritsar from May 7 to 9.
It said it was closely monitoring the situation and has notified all customers affected by the flight suspension.
Those travelling to or from Amritsar are encouraged to check their registered e-mail and mobile phones for notifications.
The Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi has issued a travel advisory after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan on May 7. Malaysians are urged to avoid visiting Indian states near the Pakistan border.
The high commission also advised people to postpone holidays or other non-urgent trips.
Malaysians in India who have not yet registered with the High Commission are encouraged to do so, via e-mail at mwdelhi@kln.gov.my
