The national carrier, Air India has been banned from entering Hong Kong, due to “poor pre-flight testing”. The airline has been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission for the repatriation of thousands of Indian citizens that have been stranded in various parts of the world.
Another news is that private carrier Vistara will be operating special, non-stop flights between New Delhi and London. With this, Vistara has now set a foothold in the long haul international operations.
Air India Banned From Entering Hong Kong For “Poor Pre-Flight Testing”
Hong Kong has banned Air India from entering, citing reasons such as substandard pre-flight testing of passengers and also for carrying too many passengers that have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease.
Due to this, the airline has had to cancel the Delhi to Hong Kong flight that was scheduled on Monday.
An anonymous Air India official has revealed, “All we knew that there was some restrictions that the Hong Kong government had put in place because of which we had to cancel Monday’s Delhi-Hong Kong-Delhi flight. We don’t know the reasons for these restrictions.”
As per reports, 11 people were tested positive for the COVID-19 disease on a Delhi to Hong Kong flight that flew on August 14.
Additionally, in the city-based news daily South China Morning Post, government officials have said that the airline will be suspended for two weeks, from August 18 to August 31 under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulations.
For the flights scheduled in this duration, Air India has tweeted, “#FlyAI : #ImportantUpdate
Due to restrictions imposed by Hong Kong Authorities,
AI 310/315, Delhi – Hong Kong – Delhi of 18th August 2020 stands postponed. Next update in this regard will be intimated soon. Passengers may please contact Air India Customer Care for assistance.”
Vistara To Operate Special Non-Stop Flights Between New Delhi And London
Vistara, a private carrier jointly run by Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, will be operating special non-stop flights between New Delhi and London. These flights will be scheduled from August 28 and will continue till September 30, 2020.
As per reports, the airlines will fly under the air bubble agreement that India has with the UK.
The airline has confirmed this, saying, “The flights have been introduced as part of the bilateral ‘transport bubble’ formed between India and the UK. During the period, Vistara will fly thrice a week between the two cities – on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”
Vistara will be employing both of its wide body Boeing 787-9 planes to fly between London and New Delhi.
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