New Delhi:In one of the biggest evacuations during the coronavirus outbreak, the Delhi to Singapore flight will be the first in the 64 ferry services which will be operated by national carrier Air India on Thursday while evacuation flights to the USA and the United Kingdom have been delayed for a day, sources told ETV Bharat.
The first Air India flight will operate from Delhi to Singapore on May 7 at around 23:15 Hrs, said Air India officials.
"The delay in flight operations is because of the Ministry of Home Affairs Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) which were released yesterday evening," an Air India official said, requesting anonymity.
"The pilots and cabin crew will have to undergo COVID-19 tests before taking the flight. If any of the crew members get infected, he/she will not be allowed to carry out the repatriation operations," said an airline official.
“Only those crew and staff, who are tested COVID-19 negative will be allowed to operate these flights,” stated the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines issued on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday afternoon, the pilots and cabin crew of the first batch of Air India Express evacuation flight were trained for handling in flight operations at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"On the advice of Government of India, Air India shall be operating special flights to various foreign stations for Indian nationals stranded abroad as per the schedule attached. The Cockpit/Cabin Crew operating to the following stations shall be night stopping at the following International stations: USA (New York, San Francisco, Washington, Chicago), London, Singapore (on BOM flights). The GM (Ops) of all bases are advised to ensure Crew Transport / Movement Control staff / Availability of Co.Doctor for Pre/Post Flight MED Examination," a mail sent by Air India to its crew said on Wednesday.
The crew which are part of evacuation flights have been ordered to stay in a hotel till his/her COVID-19 test come out negative, stated the mail.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had on Tuesday said that the Government of India will begin conducting the first phase of repatriation flights for 14,800 Indian citizens stranded abroad from May 7.
"Air India will operate 64 flights from 7 May to 13 May to bring back over 15,000 citizens stranded in as many as 12 countries, including the UK, the US and the United Arab Emirates," he had said.
In comparison, three decades ago, Air India led a group of airlines which included Indian Airlines and Aeroflot as well as IAF to rescue an estimated 111,711 Indians from the Gulf, after Iraq invaded Kuwait in the year 1990. The 59-day operation involved 488 flights and was conducted before the first Gulf war. This time, the exercise will encompass flights to the US in the West to the Philippines in the East. As per the plan, 10 flights will be operated to the UAE to bring Indians from May 7-13, while 7 will be sent to the US, 7 to Malaysia and 5 to Saudi Arabia, among others.
Subsequently, the passengers availing these flights will be charged for the one-way ferry service, as the national carrier is already in a financial turmoil. Lately, despite its precarious financial position, the flag carrier has emerged as one of the few airlines in the world that have evacuated more than 9,000 passengers during the Covid-19 crisis.
The airline to date has carried out massive flight operations to China, Japan and Europe to bring back stranded Indians, mostly students and pilgrims. Additionally, the airline has been instrumental in repatriating foreigners to Israel, UK and Germany. Moreover, Air India and its subsidiary Alliance Air has reached every corner of the country to supply essential medical equipment.
(With inputs from IANS)
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