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- With various countries gradually lifting travel restrictions from India under air bubble arrangements, both Indian and foreign airlines are offering a number of flight options for those who want to travel to countries such as the US, Germany, France, Canada, the UK and the UAE.
- However, travel is subject to certain conditions imposed by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the governments of the destination countries.
What are air transport bubbles?
- Transport bubbles are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits. India has created air travel arrangements with countries like the US, France, Germany, the UK, Canada, the UAE and Maldives.
Who can travel abroad from India?
- For the countries with which India has air transport arrangements, Indian nationals holding a valid visa with validity of at least one month — other than visa for tourism purpose — are allowed to travel. The UAE, in fact, has also allowed tourists to travel into its borders. This means that visa holders of various categories such as student visa, business visa, work visa will be allowed to travel outside from India.
Who can travel into India from abroad?
- In addition to Indian nationals being allowed to travel on inbound flights operated either by Indian carriers or foreign carriers, certain categories of foreign nationals are also allowed to travel to India.
- Until recently, only certain holders of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards were allowed to enter India but the government has now allowed all OCI cardholders to arrive into India.
Who can travel into India from abroad?
- For other foreign nationals, the categories allowed to enter India include foreign businessmen coming to India on a business visa; foreign healthcare professionals, health researchers, engineers and technicians for technical work at Indian health sector facilities, including laboratories and factories and foreign engineering, managerial, design or other specialists travelling to India on behalf of foreign business entities located in India (these include all manufacturing units, design units, software and IT units as well as financial sector companies, both banking and non-banking financial sector firms).
Which airlines are operating flights to/from India?
- National carrier Air India is leading the way with flights from various stations in India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Amritsar and Thiruvananthapuram to destinations like London, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Paris, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington DC.
- These airlines include United, Air France, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Emirates, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic.
Which airlines are operating flights to/from India?
- In addition to foreign carriers and Air India, private Indian airlines are also expected to make the best of the air bubble arrangements.
- Full service carrier Vistara is expected to start operations between India and the UK, France and Germany.
- This will begin with thrice-a-week flights between Delhi and London’s Heathrow airport, where Vistara has acquired slots.
What do you need to do to travel abroad?
- Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a set of guidelines for international arrival as per which all travellers should submit a self-declaration form on the portal http://www.newdelhiairport.in at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel.
- They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they will undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health.
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