This news will definitely cheer up air travellers as the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that passengers will now be able to book tickets directly with airlines under the Vande Bharat Mission and Air Transport Bubble Arrangement. However, this is only for non-scheduled commercial flights.
On August 22, a standard operating protocol (SOP) was issued by the Home inistry stating that travellers on outbound flights “will have to apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) or an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure & arrival”.
Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) has been issued by @HMOIndia on 22 Aug 2020, for international travel on non-scheduled commercial flights under VBM & Air Transport Bubble Arrangement.
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) August 26, 2020
On Wednesday, the ministry took to Twitter to announce that it “has designated all the airlines operating under Vande Bharat Mission & air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose”.
Clause 2B(iii) of the order states that the persons who are eligible to travel on the out-bound flights, will apply to MoCA or to an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure & arrival.
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) August 26, 2020
Clause 2B(iii) of the order states that the persons who are eligible to travel on the out-bound flights, will apply to MoCA or to an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure & arrival.
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) August 26, 2020
India has now made bilateral air travel bubbles with the UK, US, UAE, Canada, France, and Germany along with the Maldives. With several other countries, the negotiations are still going on. Since May 6, several scheduled international flights have been suspended because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Given this, since May 6, the Vande Bharat Mission has rescued more than 13.5 lakh passengers from various countries.