Over 177 Indian Nationals in Bahrain returned to Kochi Kerala yesterday on a special flight. Air India Express flight (AIE) IX 1474 departed from Bahrain with 175 passengers and an infant onboard. Over 3891 people returned on 1st June from Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Bahrain, Salalah, Moscow, Kiev, Madrid, Tokyo, Dhaka, Bishkek, Almaty, Riyadh & Dammam to India.

Meanwhile, Indians in Bahrain have been urged the Indian government to schedule more repatriation flights to different states.

According to the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, numerous citizens have been approaching the government to restart international flights. The Ministry reiterated numerous factors need to be addressed one of which being many international destinations are not allowing incoming passenger traffic, except for their citizens or diplomats.

“Some of them are still allowing only limited flights to operate. MHA guidelines for lockdown 5.0 have further opened up inter and intra-state travel, will facilitate calibrated reopening of the sector. As we move towards the critical mass of 50-60% operation of domestic flights, our ability to resume international operations will also improve” said Minister of Civil aviation Hardeep Singh Puri.

Within India, most international flights operate from the metros where travellers arriving from neighbouring cities and states. Metro cities were under various degrees of lockdown which are beginning to be lifted. 

The Vande Bharat Mission has already evacuated more than 50,000 stranded & distressed Indian citizens. India is now preparing to significantly increase these flights.