Vande Bharat Mission: Five Air India repatriation flights handled by Delhi airport on Sunday

Delhi airport on Sunday handled five Air India repatriation flights under Vande Bharat Mission from cities like London and Riyadh, said officials.

Air India is to conduct a total of 64 flights between May 7 and May 14 under Vande Bharat Mission, which aims to bring back Indians stranded abroad amid coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

"On Sunday, Air India operated three flights out of Delhi -- one each to London, Chicago and Riyadh. While Riyadh flight was empty, flight to London had around 69 passengers. Delhi-Chicago flight had 329 passengers," officials stated.

Passengers are being charged for seats on se repatriation flights.

"Under Vande Bharat mission, re were two flights that arrived in Delhi. While flight from Riyadh had 138 passengers, flight from London had 313 passengers," officials ted.

India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb spread of vel coronavirus, which has infected more than 62,900 people and killed around 2,100 people in country till w.

All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this lockdown period. However, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights and special flights permitted by aviation regulator DGCA are allowed to operate.