Talks in advanced stage for air bubbles with 3 countries: Puri

TIL Desk/Business/New Delhi/ Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said India is in negotiations with three countries to establish ‘Air Bubble’ arrangements for allowing flight services under pre-conditions.

In aviation parlance, ‘Air Bubble’ travel arrangements are established between two countries under a certain set of safety and passenger travelling conditions such as high demand, legal entry and exit norms and airlines’ willingness to operate on these sectors.

Puri said that India has allowed Air France to operate 28 flights to Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai from July 18 to August 1, while US-based United Airlines has been allowed to operate 18 flights between July 17-31, and negotiations are on with Germany regarding operations of Lufthansa flights to India.

At present, the civil aviation authorities of India and the UAE have agreed to allow operations of special repatriation flights between the two countries during July 12-26.