The Indian national carrier, Air India, has cut its European footprint in half to cut costs. 5 cities – Milan, Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen and Stockholm – have been removed from the AI network, according to a report.
The Airline will now fly to London, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome in the EU and the UK. AI’s nonstops from Delhi to these 5 cities were the only direct flights on these routes and were popular with travelers.
“We have not flown to the five cities that have been removed from its EU network for almost two months now. As of now, we cannot say when flights to those places will be resumed,” the official said.
AI’s nonstops from Delhi to Milan, Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen and Stockholm with their Boeing 787 Dreamliners were the only direct flights on these routes and were popular with travelers in pre-pandemic times.
An airline spokesperson said: “In view of the COVID situation, (AI has) approved to close down these stations. (We will) immediate initiate action with regard to closure in consultation with local lawyers, and advise the time lines, by which the station will be closed.”
India has so far created bubbles with the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Until the resumption of scheduled flights, persons can travel between India and the countries under this interim agreement. Since there has been no bubble with Spain, Austria, Denmark and Sweden, flights to Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen and Stockholm made little economic sense.
India has started lifting restrictions on the categories of people who can travel in and out of bubble countries. Now Indians can travel to these countries on any type of visa with special arrangements.
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