Panaji:A special flight of Titan Airways carrying 330 stranded British nationals, including 312 adults and one infant, departed from Dabolim Airport in Goa on Wednesday evening.
The flight was specially arranged by the British embassy to evacuate the stranded citizens due to a lockdown imposed by the Centre as well as the state government to contain the rapid spread of coronavirus infection.
The 19th relief flight, en route to Stantec in the UK, departed from Goa International Airport at 10:00 p.m. after the passengers filled the self-declaration form mandated by the Government of India in view of the lockdown measures, and were thermally checked at the airport, Goa Airport Director Gagan Malik told reporters.
"We are going to have two more flights in the coming four days. There is also the intimation that we may have 3-4 more flights in the coming next week. So this process is continuing. I must admit that this is the sheer teamwork of the Goa International Airport wherein our operation's team, housekeeping and engineering staff, and all others have put their hands together," Malik said.
"The Goa state government is also helping them to come to the Airport as these flights depart usually in late nights. We have also made sitting arrangements, food and water facilities for those passengers coming early outside the terminal building," he added.
After one flight departs, the process of disinfecting the terminal gets started, Malik noted, adding that the airport authorities are trying to maintain "a semblance in balance" where all passengers are pre-secured and pre-sanitised before boarding any flight.