More stranded Indians to fly home on chartered flights: All you need to know

After India permitted private aircraft, charter flights for repatriation amid Covid-19 pandemic, more stranded Indians - families and individuals - are hopeful they can return home.
On May 26, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) issued a standard operation protocol (SOP), allowing private aircraft and chartered operations on international sectors in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
The government has also permitted a certain category of OCI cardholders to return to India. In a bid to meet the high volume of Indians wishing to return, private organisations wishing to repatriate their employees, and Indian community groups have already begun preparations, in cooperation with diplomatic missions in the UAE, Khaleej Times has learnt.
Community groups including the Dubai Chapter of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), Sharjah Indian Association, UAE PRO Organisation, and Al Madina Group has expressed interest to charter these flights.
KMCC representatives have already identified 5,000 Indians who wish to travel home. The special charter flights will operate besides the Vande Bharat Mission flights, the massive repatriation mission organised by the Government of India.
'All travellers must be registered on missions' website'
Neeraj Agarwal, the Consul for Press, Information and Culture at the Consulate General of India said, "Companies and community organisations have been given the permission to operate chartered flights from the UAE to India. However, the norms listed in the SOP issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and MoCA need to be strictly adhered to."
"A procedure has been adopted in this regard. All passengers must be registered on the Indian Consulate website. Following which, organisations must file the data of interested passengers in a prescribed format," explained Agarwal.
The data, including the passenger manifest and the flight details, will be sent to the concerned authorities in India, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The request must also be submitted to the Consulate at least seven days in advance. "For example, if the flight is to depart on June 6, the request must come in on May 29," he explained.
"Following which, the request is sent to Delhi. It is advised that the flight organiser also gets the respective state government approvals for institutional quarantine purposes as it would save time. However, if it has not been taken, the Consulate will get these approvals as well," Agarwal explained. Once, approvals are received from the Centre, the operator must seek permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
'Book tickets only after all approvals'
Once all these approvals have come through, the missions will post the flight data on its social media and website. "We advise people to book tickets only once the flight details are put up on our social media, not before. People should be careful in this matter," stressed Aggarwal. The prices will also include the cost of institutional quarantine in India.
However, the Consulate has said it will not decide the price of tickets and it is left up to the organizing groups. However, Aggarwal said ideally, the ticket prices should be standardized. Other operating procedures such as conducting the IgG/ IgM tests ahead of the departure is yet to be ascertained.
Prices could be nominal: Community groups
Afi Ahmed, managing director of Smart Travels, a Dubai-based travel agency has at least 40 flight requests have come through from various community organisations and companies. He said, "Obviously these flights are not being organised for profitable purposes, so we are looking at flight tickets to be priced at Dh 1,200 to 1,300 each. However, some travel agencies and individuals are already taking money from people for this purpose. My request to them is to not book it unless approvals come through."
 
Dubai KMCC Chapter acting president Mustafa Vengara said, "KMCC is looking to charter enough flights to fly home at least 5,000 stranded Indians. We have already prepared the list for one flight and will be submitting our request to the Consulate tonight."
 
Indian Association Sharjah president EP Johnson has said the association is requesting the repatriation of 2,000 Indians, including non-teaching and a few teaching staff at the Sharjah Indian School "If we can get at least four flights, that would be enough. There are a few cases of stranded labourers as well. The association will foot the cost of quarantine in India, and a few charity cases will be provided air tickets from donors," said Johnson.
 
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai
• India

Dhanusha Gokulan

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com