What Does India’s Newly Created Air Bubbles Actually Mean For Regular Travellers?

As India resumes international flights to the US, France, Germany and UAE on select routes under the recently introduced air bubbles, here’s what you actually need to know about this new method of flying! By Tanvi Jain

 

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India recently signed air bubbles with the US, UAE, France and Germany, to allow international flights to operate on select routes to and from these countries, so that people willing to fly to these destinations can easily do so, but only if they abide by the set guidelines and protocols, of both the departure as well as the arrival destinations. 

As of now, only diplomats, holders of Overseas Citizens of India card, and Indians with confirmed employment, internship or admission offer, are allowed to fly through these air bridges created by India as part of a bilateral agreement with the mentioned countries.  

 

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“Air France would be operating 28 flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Paris from July 18 to August 1 while American carrier United Airlines would be flying 18 flights between India and the US from July 17 to July 31,” Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said last week.  

Moreover, while UAE carriers already started operations from July 12, and now with the US, France and Germany, talks are on with the UK to establish a similar bubble.  

 

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However, in case you are planning a trip to any of these destinations, make sure to read about all the rules and regulations of the receiving country. For example — it depends upon the destination country as to which visa holder is allowed to enter or whether you can apply for a fresh visa to that country or not. These flights are not for commercial flying, however, as many countries have reopened for tourism, it depends upon them if you could go there as a tourist or not.   

Moreover, as far as foreigners travelling to India are concerned, only certain categories are allowed to travel to the country at this hour, such as healthcare and technical professionals, businessmen, etc. 

Related: Fasten Your Seat Belts As India’s Bilateral Travel Bubbles With US & France Finally Takes Off