Air India Express offers free rescheduling for Nepal flights as protests escalate

Passengers who have reservations on flights to and from Nepal through September 17th can cancel their tickets for a complete refund or reschedule their trips without incurring additional fees, according to Air India Express.  The action was taken as Nepal struggles with violent protests that have killed at least 19 people and injured over 500 more, according to ANI.

In a statement, an Air India Express spokesperson said the airline was committed to ensuring the safety and convenience of its passengers during the crisis. Travellers with bookings up to September 17, can either change their travel dates without incurring any fee or fare difference, or opt for a full refund to their original payment method.

The airline has also enabled customers to access these options through its AI-powered chat assistant, Tia, available on its website, WhatsApp, and mobile app. Passengers can use the keyword NepalTravel to process changes.

Protests broke out on September 8 when Nepal's government banned at least 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and WhatsApp. Officials said this was to address tax and cybersecurity issues, but many saw it as an attempt to silence criticism.

The protests, which were led by young people, also voiced dissatisfaction with government secrecy, unemployment, and corruption.  Protesters and law enforcement clashed as the unrest extended to major cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Birgunj, Butwal, Biratnagar, and Itahari.

As the situation worsened, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli stepped down on 9 September just a day after Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned taking responsibility for the growing violence.
The government has called in the Nepal Army to bring back peace and put a curfew in place across the country with no end date set. Soldiers now guard key city areas, while rules stay in effect to stop large groups from forming.

The unrest has badly hurt air travel. Air India called off flights to and from Kathmandu for two days in a row because Tribhuvan International Airport shut down. Other Indian airlines, like IndiGo, have also stopped their flights.