Exorbitant air fares dissuade Canadian PRs from flying back

Gs Paul

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15

Amritsar-based Gurpal Singh with permanent residency (PR) of Canada has put his reunion with his family in Vancouver on hold, as he is waiting for the international flights from India to resume their normal operation.

The Canadian government had arranged for special repatriation flight, but with a priority to fly back its citizens first, leaving the PR cardholders in a limbo.

Later, the Canadian government did make provisions to fly back the PR holders, only the travel fare charged from them was unreasonably high.

An air ticket from New Delhi to Canada normally costs between $700 and 1,200, however, the special repatriation flight cost them not less than $3,430 each.

In April, a group of affected PRs had arranged a ‘chartered flight’ for $1,550-1,700 each to Vancouver and Toronto, respectively, but then the Canadian authorities had refused them permission.

Gurpal, who had come to India in December with his family, said: “Given that both my wife and kids are citizens of Canada, had they been here with my parents and I, we all could’ve gone sans any hassle. But since the travel fare was high, we decided to wait for the resumption of international flights.”

Ironically, the Canadian authorities have been flying back PRs from other countries like Philippines, Nepal and Pakistan sans charging them exorbitantly for air travel.

Hailing from Fatehgarh Sahib, another Canadian PR had approached the Canadian PM’s office and High Commission of Canada, but to no avail.

“We are desperate to return home, as it is there we have our jobs, houses, family and friends,” said the PR cardholder.