After a brief confrontation over who is flying the most aircraft amid the Covid-19 pandemic that led to a brief suspension of the air bubble between India and Germany, Air India tweeted on Friday that it would begin its flights to Germany from the 26th. October. The new agreement reached between the two countries has been extended until March 28, 2021.
Air bubbles are pacts signed by two countries that allow airlines from both countries to fly. Under these agreements, the number of flights is restricted as all countries are now cautious so that the number of Covid-19 cases does not increase due to the resumption of international flights.
India claimed that Germany was flying more flights to India while the government restricted the number of Indian flights into the country. After India asked Lufthanasa to cut its hours, it canceled all flights to India until October 20. Then Air India also canceled all its flights to Frankfurt until October 14.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said Lufthansa operated 20 flights a week, while Indian carriers operated only three to four flights. Lufthanasa was suggested to fly seven flights a week, which the airline rejected.
As a result of the brief suspension of the air bubble, several flights were canceled. Those holding Air India tickets between October 20-26 should contact the airline to reschedule them after October 26.
Commenting on the suspension of the air bubble between India and Germany, the Union’s civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently said that talks were underway between the two countries. “The problem is not allowing the entry or not of foreign carriers. We are all in favor of foreign carriers operating here. Not make mistakes. But I think the time has come for the message to go out loud and clear that it will not be done at the expense of Indian carriers. Under regulated agreements (air bubbles), we do not insist on full parity. Even close to parity will do, ”the minister had said.
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