India Suspends Air Bubbles with Germany after Lufthansa flights issue

The Director-General of Civil Aviation on Tuesday informed that they suspended the air bubbles with Germany adding negotiations are currently underway,reports the ANI.

“India formalized an Air Bubble with Germany in July 2020. An Air Bubble arrangement allows nationals of both countries to travel in either direction. However, there are restrictions in place for Indian nationals desiring to travel to Germany which was putting Indian carriers at a significant disadvantage resulting in an inequitable distribution of traffic in favour of Lufthansa,” The DGCA said as reported by the ANI.

The DGCA said that while Indian carriers operated 3 to 4 flights a week, Lufthansa operated 20 flights a week.

“In spite of this disparity, we offered to clear seven flights a week for Lufthansa which was not accepted by them. The negotiations continue,” the DGCA added.

The Vande Bharat Mission started in early May to evacuate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus-induced travel restrictions.

The mission is in its sixth phase which will continue till October 24.