Travel question: Why can’t I buy a UK-India charter flight to Goa?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

People with Indian passports are restricted from certain tickets due to rules (Getty )

Q I want to fly to visit family in India with a charter flight, not because of the cost but because I am anxious about flying. They fly nonstop between Gatwick and Goa, while with other airlines I would need to change planes and suffer twice as many flights. But I have been told that because I have an Indian passport I am not allowed to buy a ticket. Would you agree this looks like a case of downright discrimination? Can’t the government outlaw such behaviour?

Name withheld

A Don’t blame the airline. It is bound by an annoying rule from the government in Delhi that prevents it selling UK-India charter flights to Indian nationals. The same sort of stipulation applies for some other destinations, including Kenya, Morocco and – when services are operating – Sri Lanka. The Indian restriction has its roots in the days when scheduled flights between Britain and India were very expensive, relative to prevailing earning levels. The supply of seats was restricted in order to protect Air India, the inefficient national airline.