NEW DELHI: India is negotiating with five neighbouring countries to establish bilateral air bubble arrangements for flight operations, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said here on Tuesday.
The air bubbles arrangement between the two countries helps airlines to operate international flights with certain restrictions. However, Pakistan did not feature in the list of the five countries.
India has so far established air bubbles arrangements with the US, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar, and the Maldives.
The negotiations are underway with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan.
Puri said ongoing negotiations will benefit stranded Indians and nationals of these countries, adding that air bubbles have also been proposed with Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
"We continue to further strengthen the reach & scope of VBM (Vande Bharat Mission). Air travel arrangements are already in place with the USA, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar and Maldives. We are now taking these efforts forward and are negotiating with 13 more countries to establish such arrangements," Puri tweeted.
Puri indicated that the government will consider similar arrangements with other countries also, assuring that no Indian will be left behind.