India Japan Air Bubble Agreement: What You Need to Know
After months of negotiations, India and Japan have finally signed an ‘air bubble’ agreement to resume limited flights between them. The agreement comes as a major relief for Indians stranded in Japan and Japanese nationals stranded in India, due to the restrictions on international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is an air bubble agreement?
An air bubble agreement is essentially a bilateral arrangement between two countries that allows airlines from each country to operate international flights with a set of regulations and safety measures in place. These measures are meant to ensure the safe resumption of air travel while minimizing the risk of further spread of the coronavirus.
Under this agreement, Air India will be allowed to operate flights to Tokyo and Osaka, while Japan Airlines will operate flights to Delhi and Mumbai. The number of flights will be limited to one per day for each country, and they will only carry passengers who meet certain eligibility criteria.
Eligibility criteria for travel
Under the air bubble agreement, only certain categories of people are eligible to travel, and they must meet certain conditions. These include:
– Japanese nationals who hold valid visas for India
– Indian nationals who hold valid visas for Japan
– Any other foreign nationals who hold valid visas for either country
Passengers must also test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of boarding the flight and must undergo a health screening upon arrival. Additionally, they must follow quarantine regulations as per the guidelines of the respective countries.
Impact on the aviation sector
The India Japan air bubble agreement is a significant step towards the revival of international air travel, especially for the aviation sector which has been hit hard by the pandemic. It is expected to boost business ties between the two countries and help in the resumption of trade and commerce.
The agreement also sets a precedent for other countries to follow, encouraging the formation of more air bubble agreements between countries. This could lead to the gradual resumption of international air travel, which has been greatly affected by the pandemic.
Conclusion
The India Japan air bubble agreement is a positive development for those stranded in either country and for the aviation sector as a whole. However, it is important to note that the agreement is limited to a select group of eligible passengers and flights are subject to change depending on the evolving situation of the pandemic. It is important to follow the guidelines and regulations set forth by the respective countries to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew members.