International flights to US, France to resume from today on interim basis

New Delhi : India has signed a bilateral agreement with France and the US that will allow operation of international flights to these countries starting Friday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday. He also mentioned that similar arrangements are being made for the UK and Germany as well.

"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 said at a news conference.

American carrier United Airlines will be flying 18 flights between India and the US from July 17 to July 31 and Air France will be operating 28 flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Paris from July 18 to August 1, he said.

"They (United) are flying a daily flight between Delhi and Newark and a thrice-a-week flight between Delhi and San Francisco," Puri said.

He also mentioned that government is in process to sign similar agreements with UK under which there would be two flights per day between Delhi and London.

"We have got a request from Germans also. I think the arrangement with Lufthansa is almost done... We are processing that request," Puri said.

"Now we have many demands for air bubbles, but we need to be careful. We should permit that many only that we can handle," the minister said.

For India, only Air India will be ferrying passengers for now.