India Opens For Domestic Tourism

 Indian states that are now allowing domestic travelers. 

Updated on 18 Sep 20

Domestic tourists are welcomed in 10 states as detailed below

Travel Voucher

Updated on 17 Aug 20

What is a Travel Voucher?

Once your flight is cancelled majority of the airlines are providing you 2 options

• Refund 
• Travel Voucher

However airlines are promoting the Voucher system. Different airlines have different terminologies. Some call it a Credit shell, some say Credit Amount while some call it Flight Credit. But the underlying concept for all the terminologies remain the same..i.e you get a credit for the entire amount you have paid for the ticket which can be utilized adhering to some pre-determined terms & conditions.  So basically you can treat it as your credit card which you can use when the right time comes

Please find below the Pros & Cons for Voucher:

Pros:

• Generally valid for a period of one year from DOI. Certain airlines do consider an extension of validity if not used in the time frame. Some airlines are providing validity of 2 years without any extension.
• Can be used for any sector (not necessary the same sector that your ticket was booked)
• Majority of airlines give you the flexibility of using it on multiple occasions. This means you can split up the amount and use It at two different occasions
• Many airlines are also allowing to use this credit for other ancillary services provided by the airlines and not only for purchasing the ticket.
• Some airlines reward you with bonus for opting this and some allow you to even transfer it to any other passenger

Cons:

• Non refundable
• There is a chance that you may not be able to use the entire amount or may not be able to use it at all
• If you don’t utilize the voucher, then you may stand a risk of not being able to claim it through your travel insurance as well.
• There’s no liquidity as cash

Points passenger needs to consider while claiming Voucher:

• If you have taken travel insurance then again there are chances that certain insurance doesn’t cover you against vouchers.
• Expiry of voucher & what happens after the expiry
• Reconfirm the validity of the voucher. Request for the exact date till when it will be valid (& don’t go for one year from DOI or any other general condition)
• If its refundable or not
• If the entire amount could be utilized or is there a chance a part of it could be forfeited? 

Please find below individual airline policies for issuing the travel voucher. The booking window for issuing these vouchers needs to be checked with respective airline as it keeps updating every now and then based on how the situation is progressing.

Revised Guidelines For International Returnees To Karnataka

In view of evolving situation of COVID-19 pandemic in the state and recent revision of guidelines for international arrivals from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-Government of India, the following revised guidelines are issued.

Updated: 11 Aug 20

• All travellers shall submit self-declaration form on the Yatri Karnataka online portal(http://www.covidwar.karnataka.gov.in/ or they can also register on https://parihara.karnataka.gov.in/Service38/)at least 72 hours before the scheduled date of travel.
• Business/short term travellers who come with a negative RT-PCR test report shall be exempted from quarantine requirements. Such passengers shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the test report andwill be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. The test report should be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport/seaport in Karnataka.
• All passengers shall download Arogya Setu app, Quarantine watch app and Apthamitra App on their mobile devices.
• Link - (https://covid19.karnataka.gov.in/new-page/softwares/en)
• At the time of boarding the flight/ ship, only asymptomatic travellers shall be allowed to board after thermal screening.
• Suitable safety measures such as environmental sanitation and disinfection shall be ensured at the airports/seaports.

Source: Karnataka State Website

India Open Doors To OCI Card Holders

 India allows OCI card holders from the US, UK, France & Germany

Updated on 08 Aug

• On 31st Jul India extends the ban on international commercial passenger flights till 31st Aug. However cargo flights continue to operate
• On the 07th of Aug, Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders from the US, UK, France & Germany can enter India
• India has air bubble agreement signed with these countries
• Other foreign nationals from these countries can apply for Indian visa for employment, business or medical purpose
• Indian nationals can also travel to these countries on any type of visa
• Other countries may be included in this scheme in the future

Drop in Domestic Flight Operations - COVID Impact

Number of domestic flights in June 2019 and 2020 from some of the prominent airports

Updated on 07 Aug

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, the busiest in the country, operated only 9,335 domestic flights in June this year as against 27,985 flights in the same month last year, a drop of nearly 67%.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, the second busiest, operated a mere 2,594 domestic flights this June as against 19,682 in the same month in 2019—a drop of 87%. These telling numbers are not restricted only to the two biggest airports in the country. Chennai airport saw a drop of more than 80%, Bengaluru 74%, Hyderabad 71% and Kolkata 61% in-flight operations.

Official data shows that Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown have played havoc with the aviation sector, resulting in a sharp fall in the number of flights operated and the number of fliers from airports across the country.

As per the above report the domestic passengers in Chennai came down from 40.5L in 2019 to 1.69L in 2020 , in Mumbai it came down from 80.59L to 2.62L, Delhi saw a drop from 1.14Cr to 10.38L, Kolkata experienced a drop from 46.86L to 3.90L, Bangalore it came down from 71.60L to 4.35L, in Hyderabad it came down from 45.35L to 2.68L and Kochi had a drop from 14.7L to 64 thousand. These figures are for the period Apr - Jun 2019 Vs Apr - Jun 2020.

Below is the drop in the occupancy level of our Domestic Carriers:

Airlines	Jun.20	Jun.19
Air India	56.5	81.2
Spice Jet	68	93.7
Go Air	57.9	94
Indigo	60.7	90.1
Air Asia	56.5	90.7
Vistara	56.6	83.3

The fear of Covid-19 has driven away the fliers, which is reflected in low passenger load. Spicejet had 94% occupancy in June 2019, this came down to 68% in the same month this year. Indigo’s corresponding figures were 90% and 60% while Air Vistara’s were 83% and 57%. The low demand has bled airlines, forcing layoffs and salary cuts.

Source:Newindianexpress.com

7 Foreign Airlines To Resume Air Travel

International Flights

Updated on 05/08/20

As the travel ban for international flights get extended till 31st Aug 2020, the air bubble agreement for international flights between India & USA, UK, France, Germany & UAE is back. Earlier this month, Union Civil Aviation minister, Hardeep Singh Puri had announced that the government is working towards setting up bilateral agreements for transport bubbles to more countries.

International borders across European countries, Mexico, Caribbean, & Pacific nations have already started to open and the government is anticipating bubbles with central Asia, Africa & Switzerland.

Below are the international airlines that are currently in reciprocal arrangement with India:

1] United Airlines

Operating and adding flights to India, Israel, Australia, South America from Chicago, New York/Newark, Denver, San Francisco, Houston, Washington & Los Angeles in the USA.

2] Emirates

From London, Frankfurt, Paris & Sydney to Tehran, Guangzhou, Addis Ababa, Oslo, Phillippines & India.

3] Etihad Airways

From Dubai & Abu Dhabi to 58 destinations including several in India.

4] Lufthansa

From Frankfurt and New York to Germany and other destinations in Europe, repatriation flights to India.

5] British Airways

Repatriation flights to India.

6] Turkish Airlines

Latest to join international services, operating from St.petersburg, Istanbul, Antalya to India.

7] Delta Airlines

Currently operating from Antalya to Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Munich and Dublin, Amsterdam, Seoul and Shanghai Pudong via Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, Tel Aviv, London, Shanghai and Paris.

Source:India.com

International Arrivals Guidelines

Guidelines for International Arrivals from 08th Aug

Updated on 04 Aug

Please find the below guidelines released by government of India (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)

Before Planning for Travel:

• All travellers should submit self-declaration form on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel.
• They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health.
• Only for compelling reasons/ cases of human distress such as pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) with children of the age of 10 years or below, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days.
• If they wish to seek such exemption under para (iii) above, they shall apply to the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision taken by the government as communicated on the online portal will be final.
• Travellers may also seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting a negative RTPCR test report on arrival. This test should have been conducted within 96 hrs prior to undertaking the journey. The test report should be uploaded on the portal for consideration. Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. The test report could also be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in India.

Before Boarding:

• Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with ticket to the travellers by the agencies concerned.
• All passengers shall be advised to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
• At the time of boarding the flight/ ship, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening.
• Passengers arriving through the land borders will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to cross the border into India.
• Suitable precautionary measures such as environmental sanitation and disinfection shall be ensured at the airports.
• During boarding and at the airports, all possible measures to ensure social distancing to be ensured

During Travel:

• Travellers who had not filled in self-declaration form on the portal shall fill the same in duplicate in the flight/ship and a copy of the same will be given to Health and Immigration officials present at the airport/ seaport/ Iandport. Alternatively, such travellers may submit self-declaration form on the online portal at arriving airport/ seaport/ Iandport as per the directions of the concerned authorities, if such facility is available.
• Suitable announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports/port and in flights/ships and during transit.
• While on board the flight/ ship, required precautions such as wearing of masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. are to be observed by airline/ ship staff, crew and all passengers.

On arrival:

• Deboarding should be done ensuring social distancing.
• Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the Health officials present at the airport/ seaport/ Iandport. The self-declaration form filled online shall be shown (or a copy of physical self-declaration form to be submitted) to the airport health staff.
• The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol.
• Post thermal screening, the passengers who have been exempted from institutional quarantine (decision as indicated on the online portal in advance) will show the same to the respective State Counters on their cell phones/other mode before being allowed home quarantine for 14 days.
• The remaining passengers shall be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by the respective State/ UT Governments.
• These passengers shall be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 7 days. They shall be tested as per ICMR protocol on ttps://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Revisedtestingguidelines.pdf. If they test positive, they shall be assessed clinically.
• If they are assessed as asymptomatic / pre-symptomatic/ very mild cases, they will be allowed home isolation or isolated in the Covid Care Centre (both public & private facilities) as appropriate.
• Those having mild/ moderate/ severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated Covid Health facilities and managed accordingly.
• If found negative, they shall be advised to further isolate themselves at home and self-monitor their health for 7 days.
• In case, any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call center (1075).

NOTE: States can develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their

assessment post arrival of passengers in the state concerned.

Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation

COVID Impact

Impact on Asia Pacific countries in aviation sector

Biggest losses in the aviation industry will be faced by airlines in the Asia Pacific region. Continued support from respective government is essential for survival. Please find the country level break up of the said impact.

Vande Bharat

Vande Bharat Statistics till 15th Jul

The Central Government of India initiated the "Vande Bharat" mission on the 07th of May to help stranded people reach their destination through special repatriation flights. Currently the mission is in its fourth phase. Till the 15th July government successfully transported 6,87,467 passengers by air, 1,01,014 by road & 3789 by sea.

Air Bubbles

What is an Air Bubble

Please find the below video which is brief on Air Bubble.

INDIA RESUMES LIMITED INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS RESUMES UNDER BILATERAL AIR BUBBLES

On 16th Jul 2020, Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Sinh Puri announced resumption of international flights to the United States &  France under bilateral air bubbles with specific terms and conditions.  This arrangement allows airlines from other countries to operate flights to & from India along with Indian carriers.

India & US

United Airlines will be  operating a total of 18 flights between the US & India from 17th Jul to the 31st of Jul. They will be operating one flight a day between Delhi & Newark whereas Delhi & San Fransisco will be operational three times a week.

India & France

Air France to operate total of 28 flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Paris from 18th Jul to 31st Jul.

India – UAE

On July 9, an air bubble was announced with UAE which will be scheduled between 12-26 Jul.

Next In Line

Germany & UK are two of the few other countries with whom we are planning similar arrangements.

Why only 2 Countries for now

Many other countries including India are imposing entry restrictions even now.

Air India

Air India will be operating to France, Germany & the US from India under this air bubble.

Work From Home

WFH Tips

Few Work from home tips from Travel Bug. Well its been quite a while since everyone has started WFH, but as the saying goes... "Better Late than Never"

Virgin Atlantic

COVID 19 - Terms & Conditions 

Updated on 23/6/20

Waiver for Date Change:

• The ticket will be automatically kept open as a credit to existing ticket till 30/9/22. Fare Difference if any will apply.
• If you choose to travel on the same route till 30/11/20, then the fare difference will also be waived off.

Refunds:

Kindly contact the airline for refunds.

Please visit the Virgin Atlantic Airline website https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/news/coronavirus/cancelled-or-changed.html for further updates.

Flight Resumption 

Updated on 23/6/20

• Virgin Atlantic is planning to resume commercial operations from 20/7/20 to certain select destinations. The first route will London Heathrow to Hong Kong International Airport.
• This will be followed by New York JFK airport & Los Angeles airport on 21/7/20
• They will gradually expand to 17 destinations starting from August 2020.
• India operations will begin in September.
• The airline will resume operations after it grounded 85% of its fleet in April 2020.

Supreme Court on Airline Refund Issue

SC proposes to extend Credit Shell Validity.

Updated on 18/6/20

The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) had filed a petition in the Supreme Court on 5th of June, that the government should issue appropriate directives to airlines for a full refund for the flights cancelled due to COVID 19. The Apex Court asked the center & the airlines to file a reply within 3 weeks. They have also proposed to extend the validity of the Credit Shell to two years. 

The Airlines in their defense are claiming that the nowhere in the world, airlines are giving full refund. The losses incurred by the ailines during the lockdown is tremendous. As per International Air Transport Association (IATA) Airlines globally will loose approximately 84 billion during FY 2020.

The Apex court has directed the Airlines to discuss with Civil Aviation Ministry and come up with a solution.