International flights under ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ (including air bubble arrangements) are operational

New Delhi : Scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India remain suspended w.e.f 22.03.2020 in view of Covid-19 pandemic. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation vide circular dated 19.01.2022 has extended the suspension till 28.02.2022. This ban is applicable for all countries. However, international flights under ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ (including air bubble arrangements) are operational.

Flights under the air bubble arrangement will continue till the time scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India remain suspended. As on 01.02.2022, India has air bubble arrangements with 35 countries. List of countries is available at Annexure-A. The government periodically reviews the existing air bubble arrangements as well as formalizes new air travel bubble arrangements after taking into consideration the Covid-19 situation, the passenger demand and assessment of risk factor with the concerned country after taking concurrence of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The estimated losses incurred by airlines in India in the financial year 2020-21 is approximately Rs.19,564 crore. Corrective measures taken by the Government include formalization of 35 air bubble arrangements with foreign countries, which allows the Indian carriers to operate international flights to/from these countries. In addition, as per the information received from National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC), borrowers from aviation sector have availed guarantee support under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) which has been extended up to March 2023.

Annexure-A

List of countries with whom Air Bubble arrangement has been finalized

1. 1. Afghanistan
   2. Australia
   3. Bahrain
   4. Bangladesh
   5. Bhutan
   6. Canada
   7. Ethiopia
   8. Finland
   9. France
   10. Germany
   11. Iraq
   12. Japan
   13. Kazakhstan
   14. Kenya
   15. Kuwait
   16. Maldives
   17. Mauritius
   18. Nepal
   19. Netherlands
   20. Nigeria
   21. Oman
   22. Qatar
   23. Rwanda
   24. Russia
   25. Saudi Arabia
   26. Seychelles
   27. Singapore
   28. Sri Lanka
   29. Switzerland
   30. Tanzania
   31. UAE
   32. UK
   33. Ukraine
   34. USA
   35. Uzbekistan

This information was given by the Minister of Civil Aviation  Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha  today.