New Delhi (NVI): The national carriers of the country, Air India and Air India Express have operated 1,103 flights to bring back 2,08,000 stranded Indians from abroad under Vande Bharat Mission, Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal said today.
Addressing a media briefing, Bansal said that these two national carriers have also ferried back 85,289 passengers to various countries around the world.
“As part of the Vande Bharat Mission for repatriation flights for stranded Indians, as on July 13, Air India & Air India Express has operated 1,103 flights and brought back 2,08,724 Indians & helped repatriate 85,289 individuals to abroad as well,” Bansal said.
This development comes after Air India on last Sunday said that it will operate 14 more flights between India and the United Kingdom under Vande Bharat Mission for repatriation of stranded Indians.
These flights of Air India will be in operation from July 15 to 24. Moreover, the bookings for these flights have already been in process from July 13.
Furthermore, Air India will also operate additional flights under Vande Bharat Mission from July 21 to 24 connecting Frankfurt, Germany with Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi.
The government started Vande Bharat Mission – one of the largest initiatives to repatriate nationals back to India – on May 7, 2020.
Under this mission, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is coordinating with Ministry of External Affairs and the state governments to carry out the evacuation.
-RJV/CHK
