The going has been tough for thousands of air travellers stranded at Delhi and Mumbai after volcanic ash from Iceland disrupted air traffic for six days with some struggling to report back to work and some postponing their dream holidays to Europe.
Though flights to the US and Canada have resumed, a large number of passengers are still waiting eagerly for opening of European airports and resumption of flights.
Cancellation of flights played a spoilsport for honeymoon couple Rashmi and Arun, who had planned a 15-day long trip to European cities starting April 15.
"Closure of airspace and cancellation of flights to Europe has spoiled our plans. Even in our dreams we have not thought that our plans would have gone awry," said Arun.
But now the couple have cancelled their trip as the airports in European cities have not opened yet and are planning a trip to Bangkok or Mauritius.
Apart from them there were families, who have taken various European holiday package from travel agents, but have been now forced to cancel or postpone their plans.
"We have quite a few families who were booked on European packages and have now cancelled or postponed their plans of travelling to Europe," said an official from Makemytrip.com.
Besides holidayers, students and businessmen have been hit.
Jagbeer Tariwal, a resident of Ludhiana pursuing an arts course in a Paris college, is going through anxious moments as he has to appear for his examination in the first week of May and has to give a presentation prior to that.
"I have to give my presentation in the last week of April and take my examinations in the first week of May, but if the closure continues then, I fear, I may lose a complete year," said an anxious Tariwal.
Tariwal, who is staying in a hotel near the airport, makes frequent trips to the airport in anticipation of getting some "good news" from the airlines.
"I will wait for the next two days or so and if the airspace restriction does not ends then I will go back home," he said.
According to an estimate, airlines worldwide were incurring a loss of USD 300 million per day due to the restrictions.
But the worst hit were those who had come to India to meet their family and have to now report back to work.