International Flights from India to USA and France have started operating. Airlines from France and the USA have been carrying passengers on both legs from India. The situation for International travellers is not going to change much by India's travel corridor. "India is negotiating travel corridors with several countries and has already made an agreement with the USA and France to resume flights", said the Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The Ministry has allowed US airlines, United to operate 18 flights between Mumbai, Delhi and Newark from July 17 to July 31. Also, Air France is allowed to operate flights between Paris and Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai from July 18 to August 1.
International Flights Are Permitted To Fly But With Certain Restrictions
Travel corridors basically mean an arrangement between two countries allowing passengers to fly safe and without any restrictions. Even though the airlines are allowed to carry passengers to and from India, it is restricted to the travellers who clear the checks, said a government official. As per the Home Ministry, only those travellers who have an Indian citizenship or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards will be allowed to travel. To add, the Indian government have temporarily suspended all the Visas except for certain category. And every passenger who is allowed to travel will have to undergo the standard operating procedure (SOP) and quarantine as per the guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Although the Indian government has allowed the airlines to fly its citizens from India to other countries, their entry in other countries is based on that country's COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. European Council earlier issued a list of countries that are allowed to fly their travellers to European countries. The list consisted of 16 countries and later, on July 16, the Council amended it to 13 countries. India is not a part of the list.
A government official said, "Things have opened up compared with before but someone can travel only if they do not face any visa restrictions, etc. Every nation has a different policy, which is not under our purview. These airlines can carry transit passengers, and we are enabling and facilitating it."
