Ixigo Takes Stand: Suspends Travel Bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan and China
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Online travel portal ixigo has suspended all its flight and hotel booking services for Turkey, China and Azerbaijan with immediate effect. Giving information about this decision, the company's group CEO Alok Bajpai said that 'blood and booking are not possible together', which is a symbolic but important step taken in protest against the alleged anti-India stance of these countries in the India-Pakistan conflict.
Ixigo's Group CEO Alok Bajpai shared this information on his social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. He wrote in clear words in his post, "Enough is enough! Blood and booking cannot go together. We are suspending all flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, China and Azerbaijan on Ixigo." His statement is being considered a strong message against the alleged geopolitical inclinations of these countries and their stance on India's sovereignty and security.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first such move in the Indian travel industry. Indian travel companies like EaseMyTrip and Cox & Kings have also taken similar decisions earlier. This united stand of Indian travel companies is being seen as a response to the alleged anti-India stance of Turkey and Azerbaijan in the India-Pakistan conflict, where these countries supported Pakistan.
In a similar vein, Cox & Kings has also announced that it has decided to temporarily remove all new travel options to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey. Commenting on the decision, Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings, said, “This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold the principles that are core to us and our people.” He advised Indian travellers to “exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is more clarity in the broader geopolitical environment.” The move reflects the growing national consciousness and the tendency of Indian travel companies to voice their opinions on foreign policy issues.