India suspended all scheduled international passenger flights on March 23 (representation)
New Delhi:
Some flights are expected to operate from India to the UAE “very soon” for Indians with a valid UAE residence or work permit, said Ambassador Ahmed Al Banna on Wednesday.
India suspended all scheduled international passenger flights on March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many passengers have used social media to demand the resumption of international passenger flights from India to the United Arab Emirates and other foreign countries.
“A question is asked about Indian nationals who are in India and who have a valid residence and work permit for the United Arab Emirates. When can they return from India to the United Arab Emirates?” Al Banna said during a webinar hosted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce.
“The problem is not in the United Arab Emirates. The problem in fact, or the point, is in India. India has not opened its airports. They do not allow foreign carriers to go to India”, he added.
He said the United Arab Emirates had discussed and consulted with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) on this matter.
“Hopefully, very soon we will be able to overcome this and there will be dedicated operations for these Indians, who are in India with a valid residence and work permit and approval from the ICA (Federal Authority for identity and citizenship) and the PCR COVID-19 test, to be able to travel from India to the United Arab Emirates, “he added.
He said the United Arab Emirates had opened their airports.
“We allow visitors and residents to return to the UAE on two conditions: the first is that they must have ICA approval. They must apply online. It’s very simple. They put their contact details and everything that. And they get ICA approval., “he mentioned.
Second, they must have the COVID-19 PCR test done no more than 96 hours after the date of their arrival in the UAE, he noted.
The Indian government launched the Vande Bharat mission on May 6, under which Air India and private Indian carriers operated unplanned repatriation flights for Indians stranded abroad during the pandemic.
Foreign carriers have also been operating unforeseen repatriation flights for their citizens since March 23.
“We operate cargo flights to India. Indian carriers fly from India to the United Arab Emirates for the repatriation of Indians who are in the United Arab Emirates to return to India. Other than that, there is no commercial airline operating from, or for, the United Arab Emirates made to anywhere in the world in India due to the closure of airports in India, “said Al Banna.
Airports Authority of India President Arvind Singh said on July 2 that India is in talks with the United States and Canada and the countries of the European and Gulf regions to establish bilateral bubbles which will allow the airlines of each country of the pact to operate international flights.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on June 20 that the government would start thinking about resuming scheduled international passenger flights in mid-July, when it expects air traffic indoor reaches 50 to 55% of levels before the coronavirus.
After nearly two months of suspension to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the government resumed regular domestic passenger flights on May 25.
However, he then authorized the airlines to operate a maximum of 33% of their flights prior to COVID. MOCA increased the limits on June 26 from 33% to 45%.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
