AI brings back over 1,600 Indians from Japan

New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) With 337 more persons arriving
today, National air-carrier Air India has brought over 1,600
Indians from quake-hit Japan and has carried over 25 tonnes of
relief material, including 20,000 blankets, to that country.
"A total of 337 people have arrived from Tokyo in Air
India's flight AI 307 today. Since March 12, the airline
brought back 1,637 passengers, mostly Indians, from Japan," an
Air India official said.
On Thursday, the airline had carried 385 passengers from
Tokyo's Narita airport.
The national carrier has deployed Boeing 747-400
aircraft on Delhi-Tokyo route, instead of regular Boeing
777-300 plane, to accommodate and facilitate more Indians
wanting to return from Japan.
We have also extended the deployment of Boeing 747
till March 21, instead of March 19 as decided earlier, the
official said.
With more Indians wanting to leave Japan, currently
struggling to avert a meltdown at some of its nuclear
installations following a massive earthquake and giant tsunami
waves devastating Sendei, Air India had deployed the
423-seater Boeing 747 to bring more people, from March 16.
Earlier, Air India was operating only four flights in
a week. Flight AI–306 leaves Delhi at 2300 hours and reaches
Narita (Tokyo) at 0950 hours (local time) the next day.
On its return leg, flight AI–307 leaves Narita at 1130
hours (local time) and arrive in Delhi at 1800 hours.
"These flights are in addition to our scheduled
operations to Osaka three times a week," an Air India
spokesperson said, adding those desirous of returning to India
on these flights may contact the airline's offices in Japan
for reservations, facilitation and assistance.
Air India has also decided to waive charges for
re-booking, cancellations and refunds on all types of tickets
for travel from and to Japan till March 31.
The national carrier also carried more than 25 tonnes
of relief material, including two consignments each of 10,000
high-quality blankets sent by the Government of India, to
Japan on its two flights on March 15 and 16.
Meanwhile, only 550 people, arriving from Japan, have
taken radiation check tests at the IGI airport.
"Around 550 people have undergone gama radiation tests
at the counters of National Disaster Management Authority at
the IGI airport," airport sources said.
Japan was hit by a massive earthquake on March 11,
triggering giant tsunami waves that damaged its nuclear
installation and is currently struggling to avert a meltdown.