New Delhi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to thousands of expatriate Indians, has asked Air India Ltd. not to carry passengers to the Gulf nation from India on its repatriation flights under the government-backed Vande Bharat Mission unless specifically approved by the UAE government, the national carrier said in a statement on Wednesday.
“As per the Guidelines issued by the General Civil Aviation Authority of United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Safety Decision 2020-01 (Issue 17) Q&A Guidance For Foreign Operators, Issue Date: 23 June 2020 – transportation of passengers ( UAE Nationals and Non – UAE Nationals) to United Arab Emirates on the repatriation flights is not allowed,” Air India said in a statement.
All passengers, including Indian nationals, who hold valid residency permit or work permit, and have approvals from UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) to travel to the country, will now also need specific approvals from UAE embassy in New Delhi and UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to travel from India to the Gulf national on VBM flights, the statement added.
