Air India to operate 36 flights between India, USA under Vande Bharat Mission

National Carrier Air India declares resumption of flights between India and United States. Air India says, that under Vande Bharat Mission, it will be conducting 36 flights between United States and India from July 11 to July 19, 2020. Air India, in its statement, said that tickets may be booked through Air India website only effective 20:00 hours (IST) on 6 July, equivalent to New York (EDT 1030 hrs of 6' July 2020), Chicago (CDT 09:30 hrs of 6 July 2020) & San Francisco (PDT 07:30 hrs of 6 July 2020).

READ: Aaditya Thackeray seeks coordination with Centre on Vande Bharat flights

Establish "Bilateral bubbles" between countries

Earlier, in wake of Trump administration's order of banning flights between India and USA under Vande Bharat mission, Civil aviation ministry of India had issued a statement saying attempts are being made to t stall Vande Bharat mission and cause inconvenience to passengers, also concrete steps are being taken to establish "Bilateral bubbles" between countries. 

statement read, "As we contemplate furr opening up in response to demands, we are looking at prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. se are all destinations where demand for travel has t diminished." statement furr read, "  se evacuation flights which were primarily meant for evacuation of our citizens from all over world are w increasingly carrying Indians and citizens of or countries out bound to countries where y are rmally resident."

READ: Vande Bharat Mission: Over 5L Indians returned home under biggest repatriation exercise

As growing demand for resumption of international flights started post successful operation of domestic flights in India, Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was heard addressing issue in several Webinars, that he is "optimistic" about international flights opening up soon. He also insisted upon an increase in flight numbers in coming days from thirty-three per cent to fifty per cent on various domestic routes.

In its latest guidelines for Unlock 2.0, Ministry of Home Affairs said that international air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under Vande Bharat mission and furr opening-up will take place in a calibrated manner. 36 flights which will fly between India and USA comes under scheme of calibrated manner of opening up of international flights.

READ: Over 5.03 lakh Indians returned home after launch of Vande Bharat mission: MEA

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