Aviation Ministry Ask Airlines to Update Check-in Processes For Travellers From China, 5 Other Countries

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Govt of India on Friday asked airlines to modify their check-in systems for international passengers arriving in India as part of the revised Covid guidelines, which require a negative Covid test report for visitors arriving from China and five other countries beginning Sunday, January 01, 2023.

The ministry’s directive comes just a day after the health ministry decided to require negative RT-PCR test reports for all international flights departing from six high-risk countries: China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan.

The new rules came into effect on today, January 1, 2023, in response to an increase in coronavirus cases in these six countries and other parts of the world.

Airlines to Update Check-in Process

Airlines have been directed to modify their check-in functionalities to incorporate the changes and to issue boarding passes only to international passengers travelling from the six countries who have submitted self-declaration forms on the Air Suvidha portal, according to a communication from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

“Air Suvidha portal self-declaration has been made operational for passengers travelling on all international flights from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan, with a provision to allow these international travellers arriving in India to upload negative RT-PCR test reports as well as to submit self-declaration form.”

According to the Union Health Ministry, RT-PCR testing should be performed 72 hours before the journey. The practice of randomly testing 2% of all arriving passengers on each international flight will also be maintained.

The revised guidelines were communicated to all scheduled commercial airlines, airport operators, and chief secretaries/administrators of States/Union Territories, among others, by MoCA.

Also Read: Update: RT-PCR, Self-Declaration Required for Passengers Transiting From High-Risk Countries

According to the most recent official data, 83,003 international passenger arrivals were in the country on December 29.

According to the health ministry’s guidelines issued on December 29, passengers travelling on all international flights from the six high-risk countries must upload RT-PCR negative test reports to the Air Suvidha portal and submit complete and factual information in the self-declaration form on the portal prior to scheduled travel.

It should also include information about their travel in the previous 14 days.

According to the health ministry’s guidelines, “Each passenger shall also submit a declaration regarding the authenticity of the report and will be subject to criminal prosecution if found otherwise.”