On December 30, the Government of India launched the Global Pravasi Rishta portal and app as an all-in-one platform for Indian diaspora and Indian Missions across the globe. The portal and app are aimed at facilitating communication between Indian Diaspora, Indian Missions, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) both in emergencies and normal times. […]
The months-long lockdown imposed across India in the wake of the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for the few, though it crippled life and economy along the length and breadth of the nation. This phase of inertia saw the undisturbed pursuit of interests and hobbies in many households. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri, a […]
International travel continues to remain the most complicated phenomenon even though we are heading into 2021. In India alone, the entry requirements and quarantine regulations vary from state to state making it difficult for international arrivals during the pandemic. For instance, Chennai and Kolkata require international travellers to arrive with a negative RT-PCR certificate, whereas […]
Like many other Indians, I traveled on one of the air bubble flights from USA to India in the first week of this month (October). I traveled on United Airlines during the international leg of my itinerary from Newark to Vijayawada (AP) via New Delhi, and the domestic leg was operated by Air India. I […]
When will India resume normal international flights? It has been one of the most Googled search queries since India closed the airspace in March 2020. On several occasions, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said normal international passenger flights would be resumed when India’s domestic air connectivity would be restored to over 50% of its […]
With the passing of days, air travel to and from India is returning to normal though normal international passenger flights continue to remain suspended. Currently, Air India’s VBM flights and air bubble flights to India from USA are in full swing. International travel is still subject to certain regulations related to COVID testing, quarantine, and […]
In a latest development for international arrivals, major Indian airports which are basically ports of entry for VBM and air bubble flights from abroad have got COVID19 testing facilities. Indians, foreign citizens of Indian origin, and foreign nationals (having a valid visa to India) can now take COVID tests on arrival at entry airports before […]
In view of international travel picking up, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have revised the travel advisory for flyers and the SOP for operations of non-scheduled commercial flights being operated under Vande Bharat Mission and air bubble arrangements. The latest advisory including certain restrictions and regulations for international travelers […]
Since the COVID19 broke out in the United States, New York has seen the worst of the Novel Coronavirus. From being an epicenter of the pandemic in the US to an invincible fighter, New York has put in the best efforts to save both lives and economy from the COVID19 tentacles. The gradual reopening of […]
Needless to say, the capital-and-labor intensive airline industry is the first direct victim of the COVID19 pandemic. Furloughs and layoffs in aviation are the telltale signs of a long-term impact of the global health crisis on airlines, domestic and international. Air India’s leave without pay scheme for certain employees, from 6 months up to 5 […]