Air India to operate 14 repatriation flights from Bahrain
Air India will operate an additional 14 repatriation flights from Bahrain to India between June 9 and June 19 to bring back Indians struggling in Bahrain due to the novel coronavirus pandemic under ‘Vande Bharat Mission’.
In addition to this, thousands of people have registered to fly home as Bahrain’s oldest expatriate club are working to operate chartered flights from Bahrain to Bengaluru and Calicut, India. President Stalin Joseph also announced that the Club is in the process of repatriation plans to other destinations.
Amongst those stranded in Bahrain, priority will be given to those who have compelling cases. The cases comprise of expired visit visa, unemployed, pregnant women, elderly with other ailments, children separated from families and others. Those interested can register through the link here.
Meanwhile Bahrain’s largest expat association the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) has also launched efforts to organise four chartered flights. The fleet included two Gulf Air flights to Kochi with over 169 passengers onboard. On Saturday (06 June) two Air India Express flights to Kochi and Calicut took off with over 177 passengers.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that around 348,565 Indians have so far registered with missions abroad to be repatriated on compelling grounds.
“Every day we see images of stranded Indians boarding Vande Bharat flights around the world. We have already brought back nearly 64,000 people since 6th May & continue to bring back more” tweeted Civil Aviation Minister of India Hardeep Singh Puri.
