'Looking At Bilateral Bubbles Between Countries': India Responds To US Allegations Over Vande Bharat

This came after the US' Department of Transportation (DOT) accused the Indian government of engaging in "unfair and discriminatory practices" on charter air transportation services to and from India.

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New Delhi: Giving a befitting response to United States' allegations of "unfair and discriminatory practices", the Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday said that it is examining the requests it received from US, France, Germany and other countries to operate similar flights. READ HERE | 'Discriminatory', Alleges US Transport Dept As It Regulates Air India's Charter Flights In an official statement released this afternoon, the ministry said, "We have received requests from concerned authorities in several countries including US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission. These requests are being examined. We have also had one round of negotiations with the US on 15 June with representatives of the US Department of Transportation and US Embassy on this issue."

We have received requests from concerned authorities in several countries including US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission pic.twitter.com/MK5xNHV0Hx

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) June 23, 2020

"They were invited to submit precise proposals in this respect. Communication has now been received on 19 June, 2020 detailing these requests. These evacuation flights which were primarily meant for the evacuation of our citizens from all over the world are now increasingly carrying Indians and citizens of other countries outbound to countries where they are normally resident. As we move from controlled and managed aviation evacuation of our citizens in different parts of the world and foreign nationals from India, we are now looking at the possibility of establishing bilateral arrangements," the notice further read. This came after the US' Department of Transportation (DOT) accused the Indian government of engaging in "unfair and discriminatory practices" on charter air transportation services to and from India. The notification mentions the reason of the scrutiny as, “We are taking this action because the Government of India (GoI) has impaired the operating rights of US carriers and has engaged in discriminatory and restrictive practices with respect to US carrier services to and from India: Department of Transportation, USA.” Air India started international chartered flights under Vande Bharat Mission from May 6 to help people stranded abroad to return home amid the pandemic. It has been operating chartered flights on Indo-US routes since May 18 where tickets on both the legs are sold. The chartered flights on Indo-US routes started operations from May 18 where tickets on both sides are sold. WATCH | Indian & Chinese Army agrees to retreat after Corps Commander level meeting