Kenya Among 13 Countries Listed for Special Flights to and from India

Kenya is among 13 countries that are set to be allowed to operate special flights to India amid a lockdown of its airspace due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

India is expected to extend the ban on international travel beyond August 31st as a result of the rising cases of Covid-19 with the country posting an average of 50,000 Covid-19 cases a day.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said the country will sign bilateral deals with the 13 countries to allow flights in and out of its airports.

The countries include Kenya, Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.   

Last week, Kenyan High Commissioner to India Willy Bett indicated that they have proposed at least two special unrestricted flights to and from India every month.

“We are negotiating so that Kenya Airways is allowed at least two special flights to and from India every end month,” said Bett as quoted by Daily Nation.

Bett said the arrangement will enable Kenyans to continue seeking specialized medical treatment in India especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which may overstretch the country’s healthcare system.

“I see a travel bubble arrangement as a long-term solution that will bring consistency and enable those seeking medical care to plan as a schedule will be in place.”

About 500 Kenyans stranded in India amid the Covid-19 outbreak have been repatriated since April under an arrangement between the Kenyan mission in New Delhi, Kenya Airways, and Indian authorities. 223 more Kenyans will be airlifted home on Wednesday.