India In Talks With US, UK, Canada To Start Flights Through Travel Bubbles: AAI

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Arvind Singh, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Thursday said, India is in talks with US and Canada and countries in European and Gulf countries on creating individual bilateral bubbles which can allow airlines of every country in the pact to operate international flights.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on June 23 said India is considering establishing “individual bilateral bubbles” with the US, UK, Germany, and France.

Mr. Singh said, “This morning, I took a brief from the key point person in the ministry who is negotiating with the countries, and he said that we are in constant touch. We are working on a consensus to restart international flights. this is going to be through air bubbles.”

“Talks are mainly happening between India and US, India and Canada, India and Europe and India and the Gulf countries to start flights in these bubbles,” he said at a webinar.

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Scheduled international passenger flights remain suspended in India since March 23 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Singh said the MoCA official has informed him that the discussion with the countries is at a “very advanced” level and the effort is to restart international flights at the earliest.

“I am sure there would be a positive outcome of the talks with US, Canada, and with the Gulf countries, and the negotiations are happening,” he noted.

The EU has presently banned the flights from India because the number of coronavirus cases is rising in the country, Mr. Singh said.

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After nearly two months of suspension to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the govt. resumed scheduled domestic passenger flights on May 25.

However, it had then allowed the airlines to work the utmost of 33 percent of their pre-COVID flights. The MoCA increased the limits on June 26 from 33 percent to 45 percent.

The MoCA on June 23 had said, “As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are observing the prospect of creating 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.”

Air India started international chartered flights under the Vande Bharat Mission from May 6 to help people stranded because of the pandemic reach their destinations.

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Manish Khandelwal
Manish Khandelwal

Manish Khandelwal, a travel-tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travelobiz.com, he's passionate about writing.

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