Passengers who are wait-listed for travel by Rajdhani Express will soon have an alternative option of flying by Air India. The state-owned Air India's chairman, Ashwani Lohani, said the airline has entered into an agreement with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for the proposed deal.
IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles online ticketing operations, will soon start offering Air India tickets across its network. Rajdhani Express passengers who have an unconfirmed ticket will be able to fly on Air India by paying extra money and provided the airline operates on the route chosen by the passenger, Press Trust of India reports.
"Any passenger, who could not get a confirmed ticket, will be given option of booking in Air India flights over the next twenty four hours. The fares will be AC first fares for AC first class passengers and AC II passengers will be charged AC II fares plus Rs. 1, 500," Lohani was quoted as saying by the Economic Times.
The agreement is expected to be finalised "within a week," Lohani told PTI.
The agreement with IRCTC will give a boost to Air India by filling more seats on its flights when the state carrier is trying to increase its fortunes, PTI added.
According to reports, Air India has been planning to operate more flights in smaller aircraft (called ATRs) in a bid to increase its regional air connectivity across the country.
