Kenya and India conducted negotiations on flights in both countries in September 2020 after the moratorium on international flights was lifted and agreed on this bubble regulation. “India formalized an air bubble with Germany in July 2020. An air bubble arrangement allows nationals of both countries to travel in both directions. However, there are restrictions for Indian nationals wishing to travel to Germany, which puts Indian airlines at a significant disadvantage, resulting in an uneven distribution of traffic in favour of Lufthansa. Compared to Indian airlines, which operated 3-4 flights per week, Lufthansa operated 20 flights per week. Despite this discrepancy, we offered to release 7 flights a week for Lufthansa, which was not accepted by them. Negotiations are continuing,” said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India`s aviation authority. India has the same air bubble agreements with the other 13 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Kenya, Canada, Iraq, Japan, Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. India has built an aviation bubble with Afghanistan.
Indian Airlines and Ariana Afghan Airlines are now allowed to operate flights between India and Afghanistan and carry the following groups of people on such flights: Now that Covid-19 cases appear to be overwhelming India for now, the deal is likely to end as Kenya considers imposing stricter travel restrictions in India. In Africa, there has so far only been an air bubble agreement with Nigeria. Although India has lifted its embargo on international flights until India`s 30th birthday. “Air bubbles” or “air bridges” have become the only way international commercial travel has resumed since mid-July. Since then, the number of air bubbles in India has risen to 13, with Japan being the youngest country to make the list. In addition to the deal, KQ said airlines must follow health protocols set by both governments. These include pre-flight approvals for pre-departure passengers, as well as Covid-19 test certificates and contacts. If a passenger is planning a visit abroad, they can check out the list of cities with which India has approved the air bubble deal.
In addition, passengers must book tickets to these countries through Air India`s website, Air India offices and travel agencies. When the international flight ban was lifted in August last year, Kenya Airways resumed operations to India under a special arrangement commonly referred to in aviation jargon as the “air bubble”. Similarly, India has concluded an air bubble agreement with Russia from 12 February 2021 and Seychelles from 22 February 2021. While some European countries are experiencing a second wave of infections, air bubbles that allow citizens to travel freely between certain countries under mutual agreement appear to be the “new normal”,” even if demand for international air travel remains tepid. In fact, the Union`s Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, said India was negotiating air bubble deals with 13 other countries. The Indian government has signed an air bubble agreement with Australia that will allow all eligible passengers to travel between the two countries. Such an agreement will also allow the members of the group to revive trade relations with each other and boost sectors such as travel and tourism. The Baltic countries of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia were the first to create an air bubble that allowed free travel between them while limiting foreigners.
India`s Minister of Civil Aviation (I/C), Hardeep Singh Puri, announced the new bilateral agreements with Kenya and Bhutan, which alert Indians stranded in the regions to take note. India has air bubble pacts with about 28 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Bhutan and France Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States are the other countries with which India has already concluded bilateral agreements on the air bubble as of September 17. .