India now has Air Bubble Agreement with 23 countries

Airlines have been permitted to operate special international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission since May this year and under the bilateral air bubble pacts since July. Thus, India has established such pacts with 23 countries, including Nepal as the recent addition. The other 22 countries are Germany, France, Maldives, Canada, Japan, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Bhutan, Kenya, Bangladesh Ethiopia, Ukraine, Nepal, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Netherland, the UAE, the US, and the UK.

On newer developments, India MoCA has also allowed Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals to travel on special international flights that are being operated under air bubble arrangements established between India and 11 other countries. These 11 countries are Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Kenya, the Netherlands, Qatar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ukraine, and the UAE.

The aviation ministry also said that airlines can now carry certain categories of sixth freedom passengers. Now, passengers travelling under air bubble arrangements with France, Germany, and the Netherlands can further travel to EU/ Schengen area, South American, and African countries. Similarly, travellers of air bubble arrangements between India-Qatar and India-UAE can further travel to South America and Africa. So, passengers travelling under the air bubble arrangement between India and Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania can also travel to any country in Africa. To date, airlines operating flights under the air bubble pact were not permitted to carry sixth freedom passengers from India.