All You Need to Know About Vande Bharat Mission & Air Transport Bubble Flights |FAQ

Indian aviation regulator DGCA on Monday announced that the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till September 30.However, the new circular said the suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.

International flights have been banned in the country since March 22 due to the coronavirus pandemic.Meanwhile,Air India has been operating flights under flagship Vande Bharat Mission since May and India has established bilateral air bubble arrangements with many countries since July.

WHAT IS AN AIR BUBBLE?
Air bubbles, also known as travel bridges or green corridors, remove the waiting period for travelers from certain countries, by allowing the countries to operate their respective carriers.The air bubbles arrangement between the two countries help airlines to operate international flights with certain restrictions.

According to civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri, India is negotiating with 13 more countries to set up bilateral air bubble arrangements for international flight operations amid pandemic. These include Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea & Thailand.As of now India has ‘air bubble’ arrangements with the USA, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar, and the Maldives.

Traveling into India: Who can Travel?

According to Air India, Indian as well as foreign airlines while operating inbound flights into India can carry the following passengers:
1.Stranded Indian nationals
2.Foreigners (including diplomats and OCI cardholders),who are eligible to enter India as per Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines dated 30.06.2020.
3.Other foreigners from these countries have also been allowed to avail Indian visa facility for business, medical and employment purposes.

Travelling out of India

Indian flyers holding any kind of valid visa under the ‘Air Bubbles’ agreement can fly to the UK, the US, Canada and UAE, the Director-General of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) India said. According to a home ministry notification, Indian citizens have also been allowed to travel to Germany and France on any type of visa.

Which International Airlines are Flying Right Now?

Under the new arrangements, airlines including Air India, United Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa among other air carriers will operate to and from from their respective countries.

Is Tourist Visa Applicable For Flights Under The Air Corridor?

Yes, certain countries like Dubai have allowed tourists to fly into a country with certain restrictions.

However, most flights still bring out stranded Indian citizens, OCI cardholders, and diplomats. If the country has not approved a tourist visa, Indian nationals cannot fly to these countries.

Who Can Fly To The US From India?
Anyone who wants to travel to US-bound international flight from India must either be US citizens, diplomats, permanent residents, OCI cardholders, or Indian nationals with a US visa of at least one-month validity.

The special arrangements have made to bring back stranded Indians, foreigners, green card holders, permanent legal residents, and those on employment and education visas with a minimum of one month’s validity.

Moreover, it is necessary to check the restrictions in your destination country before booking the tickets.