Attention flyers! THESE booking platforms suspend offerings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, China amid India-Pak tensions

IND PAK News: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, various online booking platforms on Friday announced the suspension of new travel offerings to countries, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, for their "support" to Pakistan. The online platforms advised customers to avoid "non-essential" travel to these destinations, while urging Indians to exercise "utmost caution" before planning trips to any politically sensitive regions.

Ticket booking platforms such as Cox & Kings and EaseMyTrip have suspended travel offerings. Cox and Kings said it has decided to temporarily pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey. Also, Travomint suspended the sale of all travel packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan to support the Indians' call for boycotting these two countries.

India-Pak tensions: Travel booking platforms suspend offerings

“In light of recent developments, we have decided to pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country,” said Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings.

"We also advise Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment," said Agarwal.

EaseMyTrip Founder and Chairman Nishant Pitti also took to microblogging platform X, saying he was "deeply concerned" by the recent developments and advising all its customers to exercise utmost caution and stay updated on official travel advisories before planning trips to sensitive regions.

"Travel Advisory - Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey & Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary," EaseMyTrip said on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday.

Travomint Chairman and CEO Alok K Singh said, “Due to the escalating tensions with Pakistan and countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan supporting it, we have taken a firm and responsible stand. We have decided to support the Indians' call for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan. With immediate effect, Travomint suspends the sale of all travel packages to these countries.”

Singh said that in addition, no cancellation fees will be charged on existing bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Emergency flight bookings on the website will also be available in case of any emergency or urgent need.

Vice President of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) and Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India)—HRAWI spokesperson Pradeep Shetty shared that hotels have been cancelled in states including Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu, and Kashmir, among others. "There are cancellations... We are observing the situation closely," he told PTI.

Operation Sindoor

India on Wednesday carried out strikes on nine sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, marking its deepest strikes inside Pakistan in decades, in retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack two weeks before. Pakistan then attempted to unleash drones and missiles at Indian military targets in more than a dozen cities and towns, many of them home to air force bases. The Indian Army said the attacks were "effectively repulsed".

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said late Saturday that “there had been repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries” on ceasing fire and accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement.