KOLKATA: Air India has applied to the Bengal government for clearance of the proposed twice-a-week direct flight between Kolkata and London. The civil aviation ministry had on Wednesday announced the flights from September 16 to October 24 under the aegis of Vande Bharat Mission. Buoyed by the AI flight proposal, Emirates on Thursday announced relief flights between Dubai and Kolkata on September 16, 23 and 30, which are subject to approval by the state government.
An AI official said the airline had submitted the schedule for the London-Kolkata and return flights to the state and had sought its clearance to operate the 12 pairs of flights. Though the state has not reverted yet, sources said the flights were likely to be approved with the rider that all arriving passengers test negative prior to boarding.
The travel-trade industry is also hopeful that the state will approve the Vande Bharat flights as they view them as a precursor to restoration of regular AI flights on the sector.
