Bandicoot

International passenger flights to/from India had already been suspended a few days ago. From tonight all domestic flights are also going to stop. In fact, the entire country will be on a lockdown for 21 days, so any kind of travel is going to be near-impossible for locals and foreigners alike.

Keyser

all flights, trains & buses have been stopped for now....the government will review the situation in 3 weeks time....

TA

I am a little stunned at how little coherent news there is out of India, aside from the scattered reporting of general (and incredible) chaos among migrant workers and poor trying to get home. This lockdown is going just great, huh.

Bandicoot

Domestic flights will resume in India from Monday (May 25) - one-third of the normal summer schedule, apparently. Web check-in, contactless baggage drop-off (i.e., SMS verification), "light contact" physical security, No vacant middle seats, but lots of extra restrictions and checks, including requiring a "green" status on the government-developed Aarogya Setu smartphone app that is supposed to track the owner's risk level for Covid-19 infection. No in-flight meal service. Face masks and face shields required on board.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coro...-suits-2232609

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/...069720618.html

ft4lyf

Commercial international flights suspended till July 31-2020
(source - any indian newspaper of your choice).
Of course, "repatriation flights" are still going on.
And some other "select" flights

Keyser

the suspension is for regularly scheduled flights that would have been operating had it not been for the pandemic....if they are able to come to an agreement with any particular country about a travel bubble then they will start operating those flights at some point this month....this is what my source at the civil aviation ministry told me....

ft4lyf

i sure hope they will start something.
So many people stuck in various countries...and not able to get back to India or leave India, etc. (well, the Air India flights sell out too quickly, as we know).

Bandicoot

Some air "bubbles" or corridors planned between India and the US, France, and Germany. United, Delta, Air France, and Lufthansa.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/i...hts/index.html

Keyser

ua & af have started selling tickets but not dl & lh....i think over the next few weeks more airlines will be added....

Bandicoot

Timatic information for flying to India (from the United web site):

Admission and Transit Restrictions:

Passengers are not allowed to enter.
This does not apply to passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet
This does not apply to:
- students if one of the parents is a national of India or OCI card holder.
- minors if one of the parents is a national of India or OCI card holder.
- spouses of nationals of India.
- single parents of a minor who is national of India or OCI card holder.
- passengers returning from a neighboring country via India to their country of residence.
- passengers with diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations or project visas.
Visas and e-visas issued before 30 June 2020 are invalidated.
This does not apply to diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, project visas.
This does not apply to Business visa (excluding B-3 visa for sports) or Employment visa issued after 1 June 2020.
Passports must be machine-readable to enter.
This does not apply to visitors with a visa issued by India.

Warning:

Flights to India are suspended until 31 July 2020.
This does not apply to relief, repatriation and humanitarian flights.
Passengers arriving in India:
- are subject to medical screening and quarantine for 14 days; and
- must install "Arogya Setu" in their personal device; and
- must present a completed Self-declaration form.

oliver2002

It seems they lifted the restriction on OCIs on the last update (July 17):

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm

ft4lyf

This information is not clear....according to the official G.O.I guidelines, only certain OCI categories are currently allowed.
https://boi.gov.in/content/advisory-...ted-covid-19-0


https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32547521-post66.html

SuperFlyBoy

From what I have seen (not seen these links though), I agree that only certain categories are allowed at present...

Well, now that I have clicked the (Timatic/IATA) link, it says specifically: "- passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet;". Appears to be a blanket statement for *all* OCIs.

Other MHA edicts I have seen do not allow all...

See the latest rulings (as what I could find): https://boi.gov.in/content/advisory-...ted-covid-19-1

ft4lyf

THank you for this! Your link which ends in "19-1" seems to be the latest update.

The restrictions on OCI travel TO India still remain as written on that page.
Quoting That website:
"4. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders, has been kept in abeyance till prohibition on international travel of passengers from/to India is lifted by the Government of India. Any foreign national (including OCI cardholder) who intends to travel to India for compelling reasons may contact the nearest Indian Mission for fresh visa. (Vide MHA OM No. F.NO.26011/Misc./83/2020-OCI dated 5th May, 2020)."

Hopefully something will change soon. And OCIs can go IN to India without restrictions (but following quarantine guidelines, etc).

oliver2002

Meanwhile AI has gone into Phase 5 of the VB BS train....