India planning `air bubble` agreement with 13 nations to operate international flights: Civil Aviation Minister

A bilateral air bubble agreement allows the participating countries to operate flights between their geographical boundaries with some restrictions at a time when countries across the world have closed flight operations to and from various destinations to combat surge in Covid-19 cases.

"We continue to further strengthen the reach & scope of VBM. Air Travel arrangements are already in place with the USA, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar & Maldives. We are now taking these efforts forward & are negotiating with 13 more countries to establish such arrangements," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted on Tuesday.

International flights remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The domestic flights resumed services on May 25 after remaining inoperative for two months.

In the coming days, India will consider similar bilateral agreement with countries other than those mentioned above.

"Air bubbles have also been proposed with our neighbors Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal & Bhutan. Going forward, we will consider such arrangements with other countries also. It is always our endeavour to reach out to every stranded citizen. No Indian will be left behind," the minister tweeted.

Currently, regular commercial international flights continue to be suspended till August 31.

"Now we have many demands for air bubbles, but we need to be careful. We should permit that many only that we can handle," Puri had said in July.

The ministry of Civil Aviation in a statement had said it is in constant touch with Indian missions across the world on specific demands for repatriation from students completing their courses abroad, workers and other stranded Indians with compelling reasons.