Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Thursday, announced that India has an agreement with the United Airlines to operate 18 flights United States and India.
"We have an agreement with United Airlines to operate 18 flights between India-US between July 17 & July 31 but this is an interim one," HS Puri said, adding that, "we have a request from Germany also & an agreement with Lufthansa is almost done."
Puri further stated, "We are at a very advance stage of negotiations with at least 3 countries - France, US & Germany for air bubble. Air France will be operating 28 flights from Delhi, Mumbai & Bengaluru to Paris between July 18 to August 1."
Puri further said that till the international civil aviation can reclaim its pre-COVID numbers, the answer lies in flying through bilateral air bubbles which will carry a possible number of people but under defined conditions as countries, including India, are still imposing entry restrictions.
"Till international civil aviation can reclaim its pre-COVID numbers, I think the answer lies in bilateral air bubbles which will carry a possible number of people but under defined conditions as countries are still imposing entry restrictions including India," the Minister told reporters.
Meanwhile, also speaking at the press meet, Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal said that as on July 13, Air India and Air India Express operated 1,103 flights, bringing back 2,08,000 Indians under Vande Bharat Mission.
"On many of these flights, we ferried back 85,289 passengers to various countries across the world," he added.
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