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Air Bubble Explained: As travel restrictions ease, who can fly abroad, and where? Unlock 4.0 | International Flights Under VBM and Air Bubbles: FAQ Answered  The Home Ministry of India has released the guidelines for the Unlock 4.0, applicable from September 1 till September 30. In the guidelines, the government has decided to open up transport further by allowing Metro Trains to run from September 7. However, the scheduled international flights will remain suspended; International flights to only operate like before in a calibrated manner under the Air Bubble Pact with various countries and also Vande Bharat Mission Phase 6. The Ministry of Civil Aviation banned international flights from March 23 and carried out a unique repatriation operation to push back stranded nationals from different countries as part of the Vande Bharat Mission, as air travel around the globe, especially international flights, remains suspended. Last month, the MoCA said that it had signed bilateral agreements with countries like the US, France, and Germany. AdvertisementThe establishment of similar air corridors between India and countries like Canada, Great Britain, other European countries, and the Gulf States have also been completed. Passengers planning to travel to the above countries can use the following quick guide to familiarize themselves with the regulations. What Is An Air Bubble? Simply, an air bubble is a temporary agreement between two countries to resume commercial flight service at a time when regular international flights are suspended due to COVID-19. Under the agreement, airlines from both countries are allowed to operate, in contrast to Mission Vande Bharat, where only Indian carriers were allowed to operate. Which International Airlines Are Flying Right Now? Currently, Air India, United Airlines, Air France, and Lufthansa among other air carriers will operate to and 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. Also note that 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, we advise you to check the restrictions in your destination country before booking the tickets. With various countries gradually lifting travel restrictions from India under air bubble arrangements, both Indian and foreign airlines are offering a number of flight options for those who want to travel to countries such as the US, Germany, France, Canada, the UK and the UAE. However, travel is subject to certain conditions imposed by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the governments of the destination countries. What are air transport bubbles? Transport bubbles are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits. India has created air travel arrangements with countries like the US, France, Germany, the UK, Canada, the UAE and Maldives.   Who can travel into India from abroad?In addition to Indian nationals being allowed to travel on inbound flights operated either by Indian carriers or foreign carriers, certain categories of foreign nationals are also allowed to travel to India. Until recently, only certain holders of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards were allowed to enter India but the government has now allowed all OCI cardholders to arrive into India. For other foreign nationals, the categories allowed to enter India include foreign businessmen coming to India on a business visa (other than on B-3 visa for sports); foreign healthcare professionals, health researchers, engineers and technicians for technical work at Indian health sector facilities, including laboratories and factories (subject to a letter of invitation from a recognised and registered healthcare facility, registered pharmaceutical company or accredited university in India); and foreign engineering, managerial, design or other specialists travelling to India on behalf of foreign business entities located in India (these include all manufacturing units, design units, software and IT units as well as financial sector companies, both banking and non-banking financial sector firms).  Which airlines are operating flights to/from India?National carrier Air India is leading the way with flights from various stations in India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Amritsar and Thiruvananthapuram to destinations like London, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Paris, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington DC. Airlines of these countries, too, have been permitted to carry passengers on both legs of flights — a fundamental difference that sets these flights apart from the repatriation flights on which one leg was to be flown empty. These airlines include United, Air France, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Emirates, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic.  The foreign carriers have also been permitted to carry passengers who want to transit through their countries subject to the destination country allowing travel into their borders. In a statement, Lufthansa said that with Indian citizens being eligible to fly to India from the US, Canada and Germany on its flights, it will operate flights from Frankfurt to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and from Munich to Delhi. Virgin Atlantic has said it plans to operate thrice-a-week flights from London to Delhi and back starting September 1, and from London to Mumbai and back starting September 16. Air Canada, too, is operating flights between Toronto and Delhi three times a week under the arrangement. In addition to foreign carriers and Air India, private Indian airlines are also expected to make the best of the air bubble arrangements. Full service carrier Vistara is expected to start operations between India and the UK, France and Germany. This will begin with thrice-a-week flights between Delhi and London’s Heathrow airport, where Vistara has acquired slots. At a later stage, Vistara is expected to add Paris and Frankfurt to its route-map. Low-cost airline SpiceJet has also acquired slots at London’s Heathrow airport from September 1 and is looking to operate one flight daily from multiple Indian cities.  The foreign carriers have also been permitted to carry passengers who want to transit through their countries subject to the destination country allowing travel into their borders. In a statement, Lufthansa said that with Indian citizens being eligible to fly to India from the US, Canada and Germany on its flights, it will operate flights from Frankfurt to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and from Munich to Delhi. Virgin Atlantic has said it plans to operate thrice-a-week flights from London to Delhi and back starting September 1, and from London to Mumbai and back starting September 16. Air Canada, too, is operating flights between Toronto and Delhi three times a week under the arrangement. In addition to foreign carriers and Air India, private Indian airlines are also expected to make the best of the air bubble arrangements. Full service carrier Vistara is expected to start operations between India and the UK, France and Germany. This will begin with thrice-a-week flights between Delhi and London’s Heathrow airport, where Vistara has acquired slots. At a later stage, Vistara is expected to add Paris and Frankfurt to its route-map. Low-cost airline SpiceJet has also acquired slots at London’s Heathrow airport from September 1 and is looking to operate one flight daily from multiple Indian cities.  What do you need to do to travel abroad?Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a set of guidelines for international arrival as per which all travellers should submit a self-declaration form on the portal http://www.newdelhiairport.in at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel. They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they will undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health. For those travelling outside India, various countries have different isolation and testing norms. For example, France requires on-the-spot Covid-19 tests for people arriving from 16 countries, including India, the US and Brazil, where the pandemic is spreading widely. The UK has a comprehensive list of countries with no requirement of self-isolation upon arrival in England. The list does not include India, meaning that those travelling to the UK from India will need to self-isolate for 14 days. For the UAE, according to Air India Express, passengers travelling to the West Asian country will need a prior approval from its Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship.                  Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday in a tweet said that India has entered into Air Bubble agreements with 13 countries viz. Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, UAE, UK and USA. These are temporary agreements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature i.e. airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits. Tickets for the flights are sold through the airlines’ website, travel agents and Global Distribution Systems. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are restrictions on international flight operations to/from India. The Indian aviation and health infrastructure is currently trying its best to efficiently handle the large scale Vande Bharat Mission and Air Bubble operations. Limited quarantine and other related health facilities to be provided by the State Governments is a factor that has to be taken into account before regular commercial scheduled international operations are allowed.  1. AfghanistanIndia has established an air transport bubble with Afghanistan. Indian carriers and Ariana Afghan Airlines are now permitted to operate services between India and Afghanistan and carry the following categories of persons on such flights:
 FOR EVACUATION FLIGHT SCHEDULE PHASE 6 (01ST SEPTEMBER TO 25TH OCTOBER 2020) Sheet-A.CLICK HERE
FOR EVACUATION FLIGHT SCHEDULE PHASE 6 (01ST SEPTEMBER TO 25TH OCTOBER 2020) Sheet-B.CLICK HERE VANDE BHARAT MISSION FARE SHEET.CLICK HERE MHA GUIDELINES - I. CLICK HERE MHA GUIDELINES - II . CLICK HERE MHA GUIDELINES - III OVERSEAS CITIZEN of INDIA (OCI) CARDHOLDERS / OTHER FOREIGN NATIONALS CLICK HERE MoHFW GUIDELINES - IV (For international arrivals effective 08th August 2020)CLICK HERE MOCA GUIDELINES ( For Domestic travel )CLICK HERE ELIGIBILITY OF PASSENGERS TO TRAVEL UNDER AIR BUBBLES ARRANGEMENTS.CLICK HERE
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