New Delhi (NVI): The United Kingdom today announced that it will operate 14 new charter flights next week to bring back its 3,600 more nationals stranded in India amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Once completed, these additional flights will bring the total number of people flown to the UK from India on Government charter flights to over 13,000,” the British High Commission said in a statement.
The 14 additional flights, all London bound, will airlift nationals from Amritsar, Ahmedabad and Delhi.
The additional flights will depart for London from Amritsar on April 28, 29, 30, May 1, 2 (two flights will be operated), 3 and 4 May.
Five flights will operate from Ahmedabad on April 28, 29, May 1, 3 and 4.
One flight will operate from Delhi on April 30.
The UK has now chartered 52 flights from India to bring stranded British travellers home, the High Commission said.
There has been a huge demand for these flights, with seats now being allocated to those already registered via the government’s online booking portal – CTM, it said.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Travel to and from India is severely restricted and so we have organised a series of charter flights. Through these 52 UK charter flights, we will have brought back 13,000 people and our staff in India will continue to support all those UK nationals who need our help.”
Tariq Ahmad, British Foreign Office Minister of State said: “We have already helped over 6,500 people return from India since we began our charter flight programme, with a further 7,000 due to return in the coming weeks. The 14 new flights announced today bring the total number of UK government charter flights from India to 52. We are continuing to work around the clock to ensure all British travellers in India are supported to come back to the UK if they wish.”
Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India, said: “We are extremely grateful for the close and continuing support of the Indian government and airport authorities in facilitating this unprecedented repatriation exercise. We are continuing to work around the clock to get as many British nationals home as possible.”
