Kathmandu-New Delhi air services resumed from today after nine months under an air bubble arrangement.
The Nepal-India flight services were suspended for the past nine months due to Covid-19 restrictions. “A narrow body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines Corporation took off carrying some 141 passengers towards New Delhi in the morning and returned with 111 passengers in the evening,” confirmed NAC. “The NAC carrier is scheduled to return to Kathmandu today.”
The national flag carrier has flown to New Delhi with 135 economy class passengers and six business class passengers, it said, adding that the occupancy of first flight that resumed after nine months is encouraging. “Resumption of flights to two other destinations in India are expected to operate soon.”
Nepalis and Indians flying to each other's countries are not required to undergo quarantine, if they have a negative virus test report of less than 72 hours ago the departure, according to the NAC that has been operating international flights at nine destinations of seven countries including three in India.
The domestic carrier flies to two other Indian destinations – Mumbai and Bangalore – apart from New Delhi. But it will take some time to start the flights to remaining two destinations in India.
“As cases of fake RT-PCR reports have been rising, the carrier has made it mandatory for travellers to bring the original report that is stamped or certified by the lab, the national flag carrier informed, adding that Nepalis travelling to India are not required to undergo a two-week quarantine, and Indians coming to Nepal are also not required to undergo a seven-day hotel quarantine, according to the circulars issued by the two governments under the air bubble arrangement.
After the flights were suspended on March 23, the government had resumed international flights from September 1. But the government has decided to start the Kathmandu-New Delhi flights – two weeks ago – under ‘Transport Bubble Mechanism’.
According to the guidelines for international arrivals issued by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, all travellers should submit a self-declaration form on the online portal at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel or physically after arrival at the respective health counters.
Under the air bubble arrangement which allows airlines of the two countries to operate services between them by complying with safety protocols, two daily flights will be conducted between Kathmandu and New Delhi initially, one each by Nepal Airlines and Air India. While Nepal Airlines began its service today, the Indian carrier has postponed the launch till next week The Air India flights will start from December 24.
According to the air bubble arrangement, flights to India can carry Indians and Nepalis, and Overseas Citizen of India cardholders and Person of Indian Origin cardholders holding passports of any country. Flights from India to Kathmandu can carry Indian and Nepali nationals. “Third country nationals including diplomats intending to travel to India for any purpose and their dependents will also be allowed under certain conditions.”
India has signed air bubble agreements with 22 countries globally. In South Asia, it has air bubble agreements with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, while India has proposed air bubble agreement with Nepal.
1 comment:
Very creaative post
Post a Comment