Air India cancels flights to the U.S

Indian national carrier Air India has decided to cancel some of their U.S bound flights due to the travel restrictions imposed by the U.S on India.

According to the media updates made by the Airlines, following U.S bound services have been cancelled by the Airlines.

1. Mumbai- Newark – Mumbai

• 07th May till 21st May 21 (Wed & Friday)
• 26th May till 02nd Jun 21 (Wed & Friday)
• 30th May 21 (Sunday)

2. Delhi – Washington DC- Delhi

• 7th May – 9th May till 30th May 21(Sun)
• Washington DC – Delhi 12th May till 2nd Jun 21(Wed)
• Delhi – Washington DC 14th May till 4th Jun 21(Fri)

3. Delhi – Chicago – Delhi

• 07th May till 31st May 21 (Mon & Friday)

4. India – San Francisco – India

• Delhi – San Francisco – Delhi (Thu) 6th May till 03rd Jun’21.
• Delhi – San Francisco- Bengaluru (Tue) 11th May till 1st Jun’21.
• Bengaluru – San Francisco- Delhi (Thu) 13th May till 3rd Jun’21.

5. Delhi – Newark – Delhi

• 09th may till 30th May’21 (Friday & Sunday)
• 10th may till 31st May’21 (Monday)

The U.S had announced travel restrictions on Indian arrivals last week.

However, in the presidential proclamation announcing the travel restrictions, White House, had made several exceptions for permanent residents (green card holders), non citizen who is the spouse of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident/green card holder, any non citizen who is the parent or legal guardian of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident provided that the US citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21, any non citizen who is the sibling of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21, any non citizen who is the child, foster child, or ward of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the US.

The ban also does not apply to government officials and air and sea crew traveling on work. The restrictions, expected to be temporary till the pandemic is under control, will mostly affect India’s large white collar work force on H1B guest visas and business travelers, the Times of India reported.

Earlier, on Friday, the US State Department announced that Indian students seeking to commence studies in US schools, colleges, and universities in fall 2021, certain academics, journalists, and individuals who provide critical infrastructure support in the US may also qualify for a National Interest Exception (NIE) to avoid the travel restrictions imposed by the Biden administration due to the alarming second surge of Covid-19.