JOIN USIndia establishes air travel bubbles with US, France, planning similar pact with Germany, UK: Puri
India is set to resume international flights through ‘air bubbles’ beginning Friday, after inking bilateral agreements with the US, France and Germany, as the pandemic reshapes the aviation sector.
United Airlines will operate 18 flights between India and the US from July 17 to July 31, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters in New Delhi.
As per the agreement reached with France, Air France will operate 28 flights between Paris and Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru from July 18 to August 1, Puri said, adding that ‘air bubbles’ was the way to resume international flights till the aviation sector returns to pre-Covid times.
The air bubble concept that allows flights between two countries operates on three sets of principles — adequate demand, laws of respective nations allowing passengers and airlines agreeing to operate flights.
Puri said that German air carrier Lufthansa will also be operating flights, while talks are on with the UK to set up an ‘air bubble’.
The announcement of air bubbles is also an attempt to address concerns raised by the US on Vande Bharat Mission flights, contending that it amounted to “unfair and discriminatory practice” of running paid flights to evacuate stranded Indian nationals.
Puri said the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases and subsequent restrictions imposed by state governments had led to a slower growth in domestic civil aviation, which is yet to reach 33% of the pre-Covid traffic.
“We had expected to reach one lakh passengers daily by July 15, but now we hope to reach that mark by the end of the month,” the minister said, adding that he expected 50%-55% pre-Covid domestic flights by Diwali.