Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India
Passengers taking international flights from India need not apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and can directly book their tickets with the airlines, an official statement said today.
A standard operating protocol issued by the Home Ministry on August 22 stated that those who are eligible to travel on outbound flights "will apply to MoCA or an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure and arrival".
The MoCA today said on Twitter that it "has designated all the airlines operating under Vande Bharat Mission and air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose".
"Passengers may book tickets directly with the airlines concerned. They need not apply/register with the Ministry of Civil Aviation," it added.
While scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission and bilateral air bubble arrangements.
Since July this year, India has signed separate bilateral air-bubble arrangements with various countries like the US, UK, UAE, Germany, France and Qatar.
Under a bilateral bubble pact, airlines of both the countries can operate special international passenger flights with certain restrictions.
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