India To Restart International Flights To US, France From Friday On Interim Basis; Check Details

Last month, the Aviation Ministry had announced that India is considering to establish "individual bilateral bubbles" with the US, UK, Germany, and France allowing airlines of each country in the pact to operate international passenger flights.

(File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi: Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday announced that India is negotiation with three countries - United States, France and Garmany, in order to establish 'Air Bubble' arrangements under a certain set of safety and passenger travelling conditions. While speaking at a press conference earlier today, Puri told reporters that "We are at a very advance stage of negotiations with at least three countries - France, US & Germany for air bubble." Briefing further on the development, the Union Minister informed that with France, it has been decided that Air France will be operating 28 flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to Paris between July 18 to August 1. In case of the United States, Puri told that India has an agreement with United Airlines to operate 18 flights between India-US between July 17 and July 31 but this is an interim one. Speaking over talks with Germany, the minister told that India has request from Germany too and an agreement with Lufthansa is almost done. Last month, the United States had barred India from operating chartered flights between India and the US. Reacting to this, India had said that they are considering prospects to establish connectivity on the lines of Vande Bharat Mission. The Aviation Ministry had announced that India is considering establishing "individual bilateral bubbles" with the US, UK, Germany, and France allowing airlines of each country in the pact to operate international passenger flights. At present, India and the UAE have agreed to allow operations of special repatriation flights between the two countries during July 12-26. As per the arrangement, chartered flights operated by UAE carriers to fly out Indians from the UAE, will be allowed to carry UAE residents to their native country on their return leg.