Airlines face a Blow

London -- The United Kingdom air threat has come as a big blow for the British travel industry. The travelers are worried a lot today. The futile attempt to blow the airplanes flying out of Britain has reignited the fear of flying. Also, the complicated security procedures are keeping people from taking flights abroad. It is expected that the demand may drop further if the airline travelers get too discouraged by the heightened security Hassels.

People are traveling abroad only if it’s absolutely essential. Many flight cancellations have also been reported over the weekend. Tour operators say that anxious travelers are seeking minute-to-minute updates on the ground situation. Many groups have put off their travel plans for the time-being. One-third of the flights from Heathrow airport, London which were mostly headed towards Europe and US have been cancelled.

The travel agencies have already faced 40-50% cancellations for overseas travel bookings during the extended Independence Day weekend. Though the number of cancellations has slowed down; 10-15% travelers are still calling their plans off or postponing them to safer dates.

Traveling to India is also being discouraged. Some corporate houses, have issued directives to employees to avoid travel in the next few days, unless absolutely necessary, and make use of the video-conferencing facilities. The serial blasts in Mumbai have further dismayed travelers. The United Kingdom and Australia have issued travel advisories asking their citizens to be vigilant while visiting India around the Indian Independence Day on August 15.

Despite of all the petrifications created by terrorists the long-haul flights to India have largely been unaffected. Though delayed departures have been reported by airlines because of heightened security checks, but there have hardly been any flight cancellations.

The travel industry has its fingers crossed and is hoping that the decline that has been reported post the foiled terror plot is short-lived.