The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday said that international travel has been permitted in a limited manner under the government’s ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ (VBM) repatriation mission. Further opening-up will take place in a calibrated manner, said MHA as it issued the guidelines for further relaxations of various economic activities under 'Unlock 3'.
On July 16, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced setting up 'air bubbles' and partially resumed international flights to destinations in the US, Germany, France. An air bubble is a travel corridor among two countries who will fly their aircraft in a regulated atmosphere. This arrangement has been made due to various travel restrictions across the globe because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Between July 22- August 31, Air India will be operating 30 flights a week to the US (New York, Washington, New Jersey, Chicago, and San Francisco), 4 flights a week to Germany and 3 flights a week to France”, said the Ministry of External Affairs earlier.
Air India, United Airlines, Air France, and Lufthansa will be operating hundreds of international flights between destinations in India and the US, France, and Germany from July 22 to August 31. Similar air corridors are also being established with Canada, the UK, other European, and Gulf countries.
"The air bubbles are with nations which have made a request. Till international civil aviation can develop its pre-COVID digits, I think the response will lie through bilateral air bubbles which will carry a probable number of people but under defined conditions," said Aviation Minister Mr. Hardeep Singh earlier.
However, Indian nationals cannot travel on these flights on a tourist visa and these are meant to ferry only stranded Indians, Overseas citizens s of India (OCI) cardholders, and diplomats under the VBM scheme.
The establishment of air bubbles followed a previous arrangement between India and the UAE that has been in place since July 12. Puri earlier said that further international routes may be resumed once domestic capacity approaches between 50 to 55 percent of pre-COVID levels.
Ministry of Home Affairs issued new guidelines today, for starting up more projects in areas outside the containment zones. In Unlock 3, which will come into impact from August 1, 2020, the process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended moreover. The new guidelines, issued today, are based on feedback obtained from States and United Teritory's, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.
Source: Times Now
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