Dubai: More than 400 repatriation flights have been announced from the United Arab Emirates to India and vice versa as a component of the fifth of the India Vande Bharat Mission (VBM).
The first repatriation flight from the United Arab Emirates to Kannur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, among flights whose tickets went on sale last week. The first flight took off Wednesday from Sharjah to Kannur, according to the latest announcement by Air India Express and Air India. Flight Kannur-Sharjah is also the first repatriation flight to land in the fifth phase.
The announcement is a great relief as the fifth VBM program has flights from the United Arab Emirates to India and vice versa, all covered until the end of August. Pavan Kaapoor, India’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, announced on Monday that Indians with a valid visa for the United Arab Emirates can travel.
Destinations for departures from India come with Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvanthapuram, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kannur and Kochi.
On Wednesday, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and ICA announced that stranded expatriate citizens will no longer want access permits issued through the Federal Identity and Citizenship Authority (ICA) to enter the UAE.
This means that as of Wednesday, travelers will no longer want to apply for an access permit and automatic approval will be granted to those wishing to return to the UAE. However, a valid COvid-19 negative PCR verification result from a government-accredited laboratory is mandatory before traveling. Airlines carrying passengers must ensure that the check is issued no more than 96 hours prior to departure.
The Federal Identity and Citizenship Authority has also extended the period of access and visa holders expired from August 11 to one month to allow them to leave the country and exempt them from fines.
The authority resolution is part of UAE projects and implements resolutions and regulations related to access and foreigners from the UAE Cabinet.
All of this has led to the added of several new flights in both sectors. The new flights announced are a great relief for Indians stranded on both sides, as VBM flights serve the COVID-19 pandemic.
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