International flights to US, France set to resume as India creates 'air bubbles'

Guwahati: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Thursday that India has signed a bilateral agreement with France and the US that will allow operation of international flights to these countries starting Friday, July 17. He also informed that similar arrangements are being made for the UK and Germany as well.

"Till international civil aviation can reclaim its pre-COVID numbers, I think the answer lies in bilateral air bubbles which will carry a possible number of people but under defined conditions as countries are still imposing entry restrictions including India," the minister stated at a news conference.

It has been reported that American carrier United Airlines will be flying 18 flights between India and the US from July 17 to July 31 and Air France will be operating 28 flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Paris from July 18 to August 1, he said.

"They (United) are flying a daily flight between Delhi and Newark and a thrice-a-week flight between Delhi and San Francisco," the minister said. The minister also mentioned that India is planning to establish a bubble with the UK soon under which there would be two flights per day between Delhi and London.

"We have got a request from Germans also. I think the arrangement with Lufthansa is almost done...We are processing that request," Puri said. "Now we have many demands for air bubbles, but we need to be careful. We should permit that many only that we can handle," the minister added. It is to be noted that from India, only Air India will be ferrying passengers for now.

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