Indian carriers can operate in Kenya, Bhutan with air bubble agreement: Hardeep Puri

Indian carriers will w be able to operate in Kenya and Bhutan as bilateral air bubble arrangements are w in place, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed on Wednesday.

India alrey has such agreements with 13 or countries including Japan, United States, Britain, Germany, and Cana. In Africa thus far, an air bubble deal was operating only with Nigeria.

This comes a day after German carrier Lufthansa cancelled all its planned India flights between September 30 and October 20 amid ongoing disagreements over which flights will be operated as part of air-bubble arrangement signed between India and Germany.

German airline in a statement said cancellations were due to “unexpected rejection of its planned flight schedule by India authorities”. It furr ded that Indian government has so far t accepted invitation by German government to discuss details of temporary travel agreement between two nations.

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement said an air bubble agreement was formalised with Germany in July. However, re are restrictions in place for Indians desiring to travel to Germany which was putting Indian carriers at a disvant resulting in an inequitable distribution of traffic in favour of Lufthansa, it ded.

"Bilateral air bubbles are  way forward to establish international flight connectivity. se will be present until international aviation becomes rmal. Many countries still have travel restrictions. We will operate in air bubbles," Hardeep Puri h earlier said.

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What is a bilateral air bubble?

A bilateral air bubble is when specific countries mutually decide to open travel corridor between m, based on understanding and partnership. Given current Coronavius situation in country, a bilateral air bubble is signed between two nations who agree to allow inbound and outbound flights between ir countries. 

This sort of agreement helps a host country ackwledge that y are well aware of pandemic situation of or country, and would still want to go forward and allow ir passengers to travel to ir nation. This mutual understanding is important to ease air travel restrictions for incoming passengers, who have to follow a select protocol keeping in mind pandemic situation of host country.

Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to coronavirus-triggered lockdown. However, special international passenger flights have been operating in country under Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble arrangements formed between India and or countries since July.

(PTI Photo)

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