If reports are to be believed, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation is likely to announce the resumption of international flights from mid-August. The Centre has come under tremendous pressure as a number of private airlines are pressuring the ministry to resume international fights because of the loss of revenue due to the coronavirus lockdown.
There is also an announcement likely on an increase in the number of flights on several domestic routes, from fifty percent to at least 60-70 percent capacity. These speculations are likely to be clarified on Thursday when Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will address the media at 2:30 pm.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had on June 20 said, “We can start regular international flights when our domestic traffic reaches about 50-60% and other countries open up to international traffic. Once the situation evolves in that direction we will consider a calibrated opening.”
According to reports, standard operating procedures are being finalized for resuming international flights. International flights have been shut since March 25. Though the civil aviation ministry has planned to resume international flights several times before, it never materialized. Initially, it was decided that the Centre will mull over this issue in July. Now it stands postponed to August, September. But the ministry is preparing a detailed guideline for resuming international flights — whenever it happens.
The report also says that there will be an age restriction on flying in and out of India — whenever that starts. Initially, senior citizens are not likely to be allowed to fly.
COVID-19 Negative Test: All international flyers coming to India will have to have a negative test report not older than 48-72 hours.
Mandatory antigen test on arrival: Once the foreign travelers reach any airport in India, they will have to undergo mandatory testing at their own cost, which is Rs 500. They will have to wait for the test result for getting clearance.
Quarantine at own expense: If a foreign traveler is found positive at the airport, he or she will have to undergo quarantine at his or her own cost.
While these additional guidelines have been proposed for the incoming passengers, apart from the standard norms of social distancing and no-contact checking, India is in talks with the US, France, the UK, Germany to enter into bilateral agreements to resume international flights.
Bilateral Bubbles Talks with Several Countries
The Ministry of Aviation is allegedly in talks with resuming international flights via ‘bilateral bubbles’ talks with different countries.
Let’s help you understand more on it.
According to recent reports from the Airports Authority of India, the Civil Aviation Ministry is focusing upon starting two-way flights, termed as ‘Bilateral Bubbles’ or negotiations with countries like the US, France, Germany to open green corridors.
This means that if these Bilateral Bubbles talks are successful with different countries, airlines of each country will operate bilateral international flights with India.
As of now, we have had successful bilateral bubbles with UAE.
On June 23, Hardeep Singh Puri said, “This morning, I took a brief from the key point person (from the MOCA) who is negotiating with the countries, and he said that we are in constant touch. We are working on a consensus to restart international flights. This is going to be through air bubbles.”
