Updated: September 30, 2020 12:23:08 am
Lufthansa said it had scheduled flights for October to continue connecting Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore with Europe and other regions of its global network. (Reuters)
In a dispute between Indian authorities and its air bubble partner Germany, the European country’s national airline Lufthansa said on Tuesday that it will have to cancel all planned flights between India and Germany between September 30 and October 20. due to an “unexpected rejection” of his flight schedule by the Indian authorities. The Indian side said that Lufthansa was offered reduced hours to mitigate the disadvantage faced by Indian carriers due to the uneven distribution of traffic in Lufthansa’s favor.
The German airline said in a statement that it had requested the continuation of special flights that it could operate until the end of September, but will now have to cancel the flights. International passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus lockdown. However, special flights have been allowed under air bubble agreements, which India has entered into with 14 countries, including Germany.
“Lufthansa sincerely urges the Indian authorities to work together with the German government to establish a temporary travel agreement between the two countries. Such an agreement is necessary to address the urgent need of tens of thousands of Indians and foreign nationals to travel to and from India and would also help balance the interests of the airlines of both countries, ”said a Lufthansa spokesperson.
“This appeal follows the unexpected rejection of Lufthansa’s planned flight schedule for October by the Indian authorities. Lufthansa had requested the continuation of special flights that it was granted to operate until the end of September. This application process is necessary as India has so far not accepted the German government’s invitation to discuss the details of a temporary travel agreement between the two countries, ”the airline said.
A senior government official said that one of the main reasons behind the action was that European airlines were operating sixth freedom flights transporting passengers from India to destinations in North America and were not allowing Air India to do the same. The sixth freedom to fly, which allows an airline to transport passengers from one country to a hub in their home country and from there to a third country, is not allowed under air bubble agreements. Earlier this month, the Center formally requested European airlines to halt sixth freedom flights.
India’s aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said the country had formalized an air bubble with Germany in July this year. “However, there are restrictions for Indian nationals wishing to travel to Germany, which places Indian carriers at a significant disadvantage, resulting in an uneven distribution of traffic in Lufthansa’s favor,” stated the DGCA. “Unlike the Indian airlines that operate 3-4 flights per week, Lufthansa operates 20 flights per week. Despite this disparity, we offered to authorize 7 flights a week for Lufthansa, which was not accepted by them. Negotiations continue, ”said the DGCA.
Lufthansa said it had scheduled flights for October to continue connecting Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with Europe and other regions of its global network. “The October program would also have seen the addition of flights to and from Chennai,” the airline said.
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