Govt approves AirAsia flights for Delhi, Vizag to help Indians stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport

The Indian government has approved Air Asia flights to Delhi and Vizag to rescue Indian stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. As per media reports, over 200 Indians, mostly students are stuck at Kuala Lumpur Airport.

New Delhi: The government has approved Air Asia flights for Delhi and Vizag to help Indians stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport due to the coronavirus outbreak, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.

Media reports said over 200 Indians, mostly students, were stuck at Kuala Lumpur Airport due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The government, which on Monday banned the entry of passengers from EU countries, Turkey and the UK from March 18 till March 31, also closed its doors to those from Afghanistan, the Philippines and Malaysia with immediate effect, according to an additional travel advisory.

• Appreciate the difficult situation of Indian students and other passengers waiting in transit at Kuala Lumpur airport. We have now approved @AirAsia flights for you to Delhi and Vizag.
  
  These are tough times and you should understand the precautions. Please contact the airline.

  — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 17, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Appreciate the difficult situation of Indian students and other passengers waiting in transit at Kuala Lumpur airport. We have now approved @AirAsia flights for you to Delhi and Vizag.
  
  These are tough times and you should understand the precautions. Please contact the airline.

  — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 17, 2020

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  Appreciate the difficult situation of Indian students and other passengers waiting in transit at Kuala Lumpur airport. We have now approved @AirAsia flights for you to Delhi and Vizag.
  
  These are tough times and you should understand the precautions. Please contact the airline.

  — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 17, 2020

"Appreciate the difficult situation of Indian students and other passengers waiting in transit at Kuala Lumpur airport. We have now approved Air Asia flights for you to Delhi and Vizag," Jaishankar tweeted.

"These are tough times and you should understand the precautions. Please contact the airline," he said.

AirAsia spokesperson, in statement, said, "AirAsia informs that it is working closely with the Indian High Commission to arrange flights to New Delhi and Visakhapatnam from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. This will enable passengers in transit to reach India."

Inputs from PTI

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