New Delhi: National carrier Air India will be operating flights under the Vande Bharat Mission from various destinations in Europe and the US. In a tweet, Air India said that the flight booking for these destinations begins from July 18.

In its statement regarding flights to Europe, the national carrier said: “Air India will operate flights from Delhi to Paris and Frankfurt under Mission Vande Bharat Mission”

As of now, Air India has announced three flights every week from Delhi to Paris from 23 July 2020 every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. And, four flights every week from Delhi to Frankfurt effective 25th July 2020 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

“Bookings will open effective 18th July 2020, 2000 hrs IST through our website, Booking offices and Authorised Travel Agents,” the airline said.

Air India will also operate 180 flights between India and the USA under Vande Bharat Mission during the period of July 22, 2020, to August 31, 2020. 

Air India said that these flights will operate to/from New York, Chicago, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington DC and will offer connections to Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Mumbai & Ahmedabad.

In its tweet, the airline said: “Bookings will open effective 18th July 2020 2000 hrs IST which is equivalent to New York 18th July 2020 1030 hrs EDT, Chicago 18th July 2020 0930 hrs EDT, San Francisco 18th July 2020 0730 hrs PDT.”

International flights under bilateral air bubbles

Yesterday, in a press conference, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said international flights may resume under bilateral air bubbles or a travel bubble with specific countries as many others are imposing entry restrictions even now, including India in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While speaking about the resumption of international passenger flights, the minister said: “Till international civil aviation can reclaim its pre-COVID numbers, I think the answer will lie through bilateral air bubbles, which will carry a possible number of people but under defined conditions as countries are still imposing entry restrictions including India.” 

Air travel in India, both domestic and international was suspended when the national lockdown started on March 25 due to coronavirus pandemic. Only domestic air travel began from May 25. 

As on July 15, India has brought back 6,87,467 Indians under Vande Bharat Mission which includes 2,15,495 by national carrier Air India. Phase 4 of Vande Bharat Mission is underway with private airlines also participating in this mission to bring back stranded Indians from other parts of the world. So far, 12,258 Indians have been brought back by private airlines in India.