Chennai, May 8 (IANS): The return of Indians stranded overseas by Air India flights is seen as business from the sky by hoteliers here who have been maintaining their empty properties for the past over 40 days.

According to a Health Department official about 10 flights carrying stranded Indians are expected to land in Chennai - one or two flights daily with a total of about 400 passengers.

The official said the passengers who fly in have to pay for being quarantined for 14 days if they stay in a hotel.

He said the passengers will be screened at the airport and they would be advised to be quarantined. There will be about 60 health department officials deployed at the airport.

The first flight from Dubai with about 200 passengers is expected to land on Friday night.

The Greater Chennai Corporation is in talks with hoteliers for rooms to house the incoming Indians.

"The Corporation wants the room rate to be at 50 per cent of our normal rates and it should include meals for three times," a hotelier not wanting to be quoted told IANS.

"The passenger-guest will have to be quarantined in his/her room. Food will be served outside the room and the guest has to pick it up. The guest will have to be confined to the room for 14 days. Television will be there for entertainment," Yangya Prakash Chandran, Founder and CEO, Crossway Hotels and Resorts told IANS.

Hoteliers told IANS that some business is better than no business.

An industry expert not wanting to be quoted told IANS that hotels offering food as part of the tariff cannot go down on the quality standards as it would boomerang on the brand later.

He said out of the total passengers, those who are residents of Chennai will prefer going home and those who live in other districts may opt for hotel stay and that number is not known.

He said the hotels will have to commit a specified number of rooms to the Corporation to house those who are flying in.

According to Crossway's Chandran, the hotel staff have to wear personal protection equipment (PPE) and masks. The staff and the guests will be provided with hand sanitiser.

Industry officials said about 40 hotels have given their rates to the Corporation which is looking at a room tariff between Rs1,500-Rs 2,000 per night.

Passengers who do not want to stay in hotels can stay at the government quarantine centres.

A star hotel official said the property already has several long staying guests and hence did not want to house the evacuees.