News

UK announces first round of rescue flights from India

5 Apr 2020 by Tom Otley
Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has announced the first round of rescue flights from India this coming week.

In a Tweet, the FCO said

“We are delighted to announce the details of the first round of charter flights from India to the UK, enabling British travellers to return home. These flights are for UK travellers who normally reside in the UK and their direct dependants.”

Details of how to book the flights are also detailed on the following Tweet, which says the following

Flights from Delhi to London Heathrow will take place on the 9 and 11 April, 2020 to London Heathrow.

Flights from Mumbai to London Heathrow will take place on the 9 and 11 April to London Heathrow

Flights from Goa will take place on the 8, 10 and 12, 2020 to London Stansted.

To see details for each flight follow the links above.

The flights are being organised by travel management company CTM which says the following about the Delhi flights.

“CTM is working on the authorisation of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to help as many UK-resident British Nationals as possible to return home from Delhi.

“If you are a British National who normally resides in the UK and currently visiting Delhi, and you wish to return the UK, please use this online form to provide your details.

“Special return flights have been arranged for Thurday, 9th April. If you complete this registration, you should have your bags packed and be prepared to depart Delhi by the afternoon of Wednesday, 8th April.

“Please note that registration does not guarantee a place on a flight.  You will be sent further information if you are allocated a flight. Those who are not allocated a place on a flight will be put on a waitlist for the next available set of flights.

“These flights are offered to UK travellers who normally reside in the UK and their direct dependants (spouses and children, regardless of nationality, only). Anyone found not eligible to fly will be denied boarding and we reserve the right to deduct an administration fee before offering any refund.

“Please begin by selecting the number of travellers for whom you are registering and then proceed by completing individual registrations for each traveller. The cost of the flight is £581.00 for each traveller and infants, under the age of 2, will travel free of charge.”

The cost of flights from Goa is £681.00 and from Mumbai £600.

Reports say that the FCO is working with 14 commercial airlines to organise rescue flights form around the world.

Speaking in the tweet, Jan Thompson says,

“Next week is just the start. We will not be able to get everyone home immediately so please bear with us.”

A significant problem is the India lockdown which prevents people travelling around India.

It means those citizens waiting for relief from, for instance, the Punjab or Gujarat will now be helped by these flights.

To those people, the FCO says,

“We are looking to arrange flights from other locations in India, where we know there are large numbers of British nationals. We will run flights based on need and circumstance.”

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