Hyderabad, Nov. 4 -- Umrah tour operators here have threatened to stop booking tickets with IndiGo and Air India Express if the airlines fail to refund the lakhs of rupees collected from pilgrims whose return journeys were disrupted following the suspension of flights to Jeddah.

The operators said they were facing mounting pressure from hundreds of pilgrims demanding refunds for their unused return tickets. However, despite nearly 20 days having passed since the disruption began, the airlines had not returned the money to the tour operators, leaving them in a difficult position. If the ticket amounts are transferred to the accounts of the consolidated agents, they will be in a position to refund the money to the respective pilgrims, the ...