India establishes ‘air bubbles’ with France, US; flights to resume

NEWDELHI: Air France and United Airlines of the US will operate a limited number of international flights under so-called “air bubble” arrangements with India, and negotiations are underway with Germany and the UK to reach similar agreements, civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri said on Thursday.

Later, a statement by the government said the arrangement with Germany has been “established” and Lufthansa will be operating the flights.

A bilateral air bubble refers to a travel corridor between two countries that wish to reopen their borders and re-establish connections with each other. International flights to and from India have been suspended since March 23 as the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world. Limited domestic flights have since resumed.

Air France will operate 28 flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Paris from July 18 to August 1; and United Airlines will operate 18 flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Newark and San Francisco until July 31.

Puri said India planned to establish a similar arrangement with the UK soon.

“We have got a request from Germans also. I think the arrangement with Lufthansa is almost done,” said the civil aviation minister .