UAE-India agreement on special flights extended
The special travel agreement that allowed UAE residents stranded in India to fly back to the country has been extended until further notice, according to Khaleej Times.
India’s Vande Bharat Mission shall also move into its fifth phase, with 105 repatriation flights set to be operated from the UAE to various cities in India.
UAE and India initially set a 15-day special agreement to allow the operation of roundtrip flights from July 12 to 26. Based on this, Air India and Air India Express have been allowed to fly stranded residents on UAE-bound Vande Bharat Mission flights.
Similarly, UAE airlines and private Indian carriers operating flights to repatriate stranded Indians have been allowed to bring back residents on the return leg of their trips.
The existing travel agreement stipulates that all returning passengers from India must be UAE residence visa-holders with ICA or GDRFA approvals and a COVID-19-negative medical certificate.
Starting August 1, the COVID-19 test results must be obtained from an ICA- approved laboratory, according to Emirates airlines.
