India forms air bubbles with US, Germany, France from July 17th

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New Delhi: India announced its first set of air bubbles with the UK, France and Germany to enable people to travel directly to and from the countries on airlines of both sides till regular flights resume.

The Aviation Ministry on Thursday said that talks on air bubble with the UK are at an advanced stage and similar deals are in place with UAE till August 26th, 2020. Also, AI decided to lower fares of “Vande Bharat Mission” flights to the West. Travel under interim arrangement air bubbles will be regulated depending on entry requirements of each country including India, and not everyone like a tourist can fly till allowed.

Aviation Minister H.S. Puri, there was demand from many countries to have travel bubbles with India. United is operating 18 flights between India and US from July 17th to 31st, a Delhi-New York daily and Delhi- San Francisco thrice weekly. Air France will operate 28 flights to Delhi-Mumbai and Bengaluru from July 18th to August 1st. Lufthansa also be operating flights, said Puri.

Flights of these airlines coming to India during the pandemic will no longer be required to come ferry (no passengers on board, only cargo) but will be able to fly in some foreigners like Diplomats and OCI card holders apart from Indians stranded abroad in accordance with Government regulations. The Minister also said that we are working to allow some people to fly in airlines of countries with which we are creating bubbles. The competition will further bring down fares, said Puri.

 

He recently asked the UK to have its airlines operate flights to India under the proposed bubble. As of now, AI operates VBM flights between India and the UK. To be sure these are interim arrangements being worked out with countries that have high demand for travel to and from India and with airlines of both sides willing to operate on them and will be continuously reviewed.

Air India Chairman Rajiv Bansal said the average one way VBM economy fare on US/ Canada flights used to be about Rs. One lakh. We reduced that fare by 25% to Rs. 75K. we will bring the fares further down similarly fares for VBM flights on Europe and UK routes will also drop, he said.

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