New Delhi: After starting an air bubble arrangement with India from 12 February 2021, Russia on Thursday announced to expand its international flight operations on Moscow-Delhi route from two flights a week to four flights from October 5, 2021.
"Following the meeting of Russian anti-#COVID19 crisis center, it was decided to resume from October 5, flights on routes Moscow/St.Petersburg - Goa, St.Petersburg - New Delhi and to increase number of flights Moscow - New Delhi to 4 per week," the Russian Embassy tweeted.
According to the government officials, on the Moscow-Goa, St. Petersburg - Goa and St. Petersburg - Delhi routes, the government has decided to allow one flight in a week per route and on Moscow - Delhi route up to four flights a week are by both countries' airlines.
"Russian airlines Aeroflot and Air India will be operating flights between the two countries. After the decline in Covid-19 cases, we are noticing surge in student movement and we expect good air traffic in the days to come," said an airline executive.
Under an air bubble arrangement between two countries, international passenger flights can be operated by their respective carriers into each other's territories subject to certain conditions. Russia is one of the 28 countries currently having an air bubble agreement with India.
Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, special flights have been operating since July last year under the air bubble arrangement and Vande Bharat mission.
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