India mulls allowing foreign airlines on select routes

India mulls ‘travel bubbles’ between US, France, Germany, UK

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Indication after US bars A-I from operating charter flights beyond July 22

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 23

With requests pouring in from several countries, India is considering establishing “bilateral bubbles” to destinations in the US, France, Germany and the UK, says the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Ministry’s indications come following the US Department of Transport (DoT) order that India’s repatriation flights will not be allowed to operate beyond July 22.

The Ministry in an official release said, “We have received requests from the authorities concerned in several countries, including the US, France, Germany among others, requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under the Vande Bharat Mission. These requests are being examined.”

“We also have had one round of negotiations with the US on June 15 with representatives of the US Department of Transportation and the US Embassy on this issue. They were invited to submit precise proposals in this respect. A communication has now been received on June19 detailing these requests,” said the Ministry.

The US on Monday accused India of indulging in unfair and discriminatory practices amid the Covid-19 pandemic through charter flight services, which prompted the DoT to issue an order allowing its officials to examine charter flights by Indian carriers on a case-to-case basis.

Reacting on this, the Ministry of Civil Aviation in its release also talked about establishing bilateral arrangements. “As we move from controlled and managed aviation evacuation of our citizens in different parts of the world and foreign nationals from India, we are now looking at the possibility of establishing bilateral arrangements.”

It further said, “As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished. Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon.”

Earlier, aviation regulator DGCA had said, “In addition to facilitating the Vande Bharat Mission, we granted permission to around 870 chartered flights, transporting around 2 lakh passengers, both inbound and outbound.”