As India sets up international 'air bubbles', here are flight travel rules to US, Germany, France; complete guidelines

Last week, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri had said that India was in the final stage of negotiations with various countries, including the United States, France, and Germany, for setting up of 'air travel bubbles' which will provide relaxations under special arrangements for passengers of Indian and non-Indian nationalities flying to these countries.

As of now, French airline Air France and American carrier United have both been allowed to operate flights until the end of this month, under relaxed restrictions for both legs of their India flights.

DNA India brings you this handy guide, as an explainer for the air travel situation in the country. If you are confused about which international destinations you are allowed to fly to amid this coronavirus disease (COVID-19) fiasco and what the rules for the same are, look no more and read along.

First off, it needs to be made clear that the flights which have resumed for now are not the normal and regular scheduled flights that were shut down in March earlier this year. These are all special flights allowed to operate under special guidelines. The flyers will have to abide by the rules and regulations of the destination country. Hence, the resumption of the international is not for vacations.

The deal for international 'air bubbles' has been signed with the United States, France, and Germany. These countries have been allowed to operate flights to bring passengers and, in turn, allow passengers from India to reach the countries as well.

The bookings for these flights opened from 8 PM on July 18, which can be done online on Air India's website as well as offline booking offices and through authorized travel agents.

France

• The connecting flight from New Delhi to Paris will commence operations from July 23.
   
• There will be three flights every week, flying on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
   
•  Only spouses and children of French citizens will be allowed to travel.
   
• Persons who have their main residence in France or in the European Union or an assimilated country thereof (United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein,
  Norway, Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, Vatican, and San Marino), holders of a valid French or European residence permit or long-stay visa, and their
  spouses and children will be allowed to travel.
   
• Others who will be allowed to travel - Healthcare professionals for the purposes of combating COVID-19; transporters of goods, including sailors; crews and personnel operating passenger and cargo flights, or traveling as passengers to reach their departure base; Personnel of diplomatic and consular missions, as well as international organizations headquartered or having an office in France, holding a special residence permit or a visa D.
   
• The passenger must be carrying a completed International Travel Certificate, which is to be presented prior to board and to Immigration upon arrival or when transiting France. The certificate must be obtained before departure via the French consular offices abroad or online at www.interieur.gouv.fr

 United States

• There will be a total of 180 connecting flights from several airports in India to different locations in the US from July 22 to August 31. Flights will operate to/from New York, Chicago, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington DC and will offer connections to Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
   
• The ticket booking for the New Delhi-New York flights has already started. America's United Airlines is operating the flights and the ticket fare starts at Rs. 57,000, which is almost half of Air India's ticket price.
   
• There is no restriction for Indian passport holders who are holding valid visas for the US. Passengers who have transited or have been in certain countries in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter the USA.
   
• The following passengers will be allowed to travel to the US:
   
  • Nationals and permanent residents of the USA
     
  • Spouses of nationals and of permanent residents of the USA
     
  • Parents/legal guardians of an unmarried and younger than 21 years national or permanent resident of the USA
     
  • The unmarried and younger than 21 years brother or sister of a national or permanent resident of the USA, who is unmarried and younger than 21 years
     
  • The child/foster child/ward of a national or permanent resident of the USA
     
  • Passengers with the following visas: A-1, A-2, C-1, C-1/D, C-2, C-3, D, E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee’s immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, IR-4, IH-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa
     
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, spouses, and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces
     
  • Passengers with evidence of traveling at the invitation of the USA government for a purpose related to the containment/mitigation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
     
  • Passengers with documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or U.S. Department of State indicating that the passenger is exempt from the restriction
     
  • B1 crew crewmembers that are engaged in lightering, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activity, wind farm activity, private air/sea crew, and other similar crewmember actives

Germany

•  The connecting flight from New Delhi to Frankfurt will commence operations from July 25.
   
• There will be four flights every week, flying on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
   
• Passengers will require a residence permit or a permanent residence permit to travel.
   
• Family reunion visas, including intended marriage, will be allowed.
   
• Long-term (Category “D”) visa will be allowed for employment in health and health research sectors, for the care of the elderly as well as specialists and highly qualified workers whose employment is economically necessary and whose work cannot be postponed or carried out abroad.
   
• Long-term (Category “D”) visas will be allowed for study purposes as long as the studies cannot be carried out completely from abroad.
   
• Family visits or visits for job-seeking purposes will not be allowed.