Have arranged for Op Ganga flights from airport close to Ukraine-Romania border as well: Scindia

New Delhi: Union aviation minister J M Scindia on Wednesday said he has arranged for some evacuation flights from the airport of a town close to the Ukraine-Romania border so that a significant number of Indian students are saved the almost seven-hour drive to capital Bucharest. Over the next three days, close to 5,000 students will be flown to India from Bucharest and the airport in the border town, Suceava.

“I will be moving to the border crossing town on Thursday afternoon (local time) and will remain there till every Indian students reaching here is safely brought home. Bucharest is about 6.5-hour drive from the border. I have arranged for two flights on Thursday and four on Friday to land straight from India to Suceava, from where some Indian students will fly home. The remaining will be brought to Bucharest and flown home from the capital. In all, about 5,000 will be flown over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” said Scindia who is in Romania as PM Modi-deputed special representative to Romania and Moldova to facilitate evacuation of Indians.

Just as he was speaking to the Indian media at the Bucharest airport on Wednesday night (IST), an Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster landed in Bucharest with relief material. “The Indian diaspora has been very helpful and they are assisting in every way, even cooking for the Indian students coming from Ukraine. I thank the Indian embassy personnel and our ambassador to Romania, Rahul Shrivastava,” Scindia said.

03/03/22 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Ukraine crisis: Over 7,400 Indians expected to be brought back in next 2 days, says aviation ministry

New Delhi: More than 7,400 Indians are expected to be brought back to India from Ukraine's neighbouring countries on special flights in the next two days, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Thursday. Indian carriers -- Air India Express, Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Vistara and Go First -- are expected to operate a total of 17 flights on Friday, the ministry's statement noted. India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive. "The number of civilian flights is being scaled up further, and more than 7,400 people are expected to be brought through special flights in next two days," the ministry's statement mentioned.

It stated that 3,500 people are expected to be brought back to India on Friday and over 3,900 on Saturday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the pace of India's evacuation operation from Ukraine is accelerating and about 1,000 Indians have left Kharkiv to nearby Pisochyn pursuant to its advisory a day ago. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing that the Indian side is in touch with both Ukrainian and Russian authorities to examine the modalities of how Indians can be evacuated from both Kharkiv and Sumy.

03/03/22 PTI/News Nine

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Operation Ganga: 19 flights to bring back 3,726 Indians from Ukraine today

New Delhi: As many as 19 evacuation flights of Indian Airforce and Indian carriers will operate today to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to bring back stranded Indians.

These flights will bring back 3,726 Indian nationals. In a series of tweets, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, eight IAF, Air India, and Indigo flights are scheduled from Bucharest while five from Budapest under Operation Ganga.

''Under Operation Ganga, 3726 Indians will be brought back home today on 8 flights from Bucharest, 2 flights from Suceava, 1 flight from Kosice, 5 flights from Budapest and 3 flights from Rzeszow," civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted. "With all hands on deck and (under) the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, we will get 3,726 of our people back home today. Jai Hind!" Scindia wrote on the microblogging site. He said, three flights will run from Rzeszow, two from Suceava, and one from Kosice today.

The above announcement comes as the government increases flights under Operation Ganga - which was launched to bring back Indian nationals from war-ravaged Ukraine since Russia's full-scale attack on February 24.

03/03/22 Simran Kashyap/One India

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Four C-17 planes with 800 Indian evacuees from Ukraine to arrive on Thursday; 100 students enter Poland

Four C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force with approximately 800 evacuees from Ukraine will be landing at the Hindon airbase here on Thursday, sources said.

India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive.

The IAF planes are also coming from these neighbouring countries only, sources mentioned.

Four IAF aircraft with approximately 800 Indian evacuees will land at the Hindon airbase between 1.30 AM and 8 AM on Thursday, the sources added.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt will receive the Indian evacuees at the airbase, they said.

Amid heavy fighting around Kharkiv, India on Wednesday asked all its citizens stranded in the city to leave immediately for three safe zones that are in the range of up to 16 km from there.

The embassy asked Indians to proceed to Pisochyn (11 km), Babai (12 km) and Bezlyudivka (16 km) even by foot if they cannot find vehicles or buses.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the embassy asked Indian nationals to leave Kharkiv immediately on the basis of information from the Russian side.

"For their safety and security, they must leave Kharkiv immediately repeat immediately in the light of the detriorating situation.

They should proceed to Pisochyn, Babai and Bezlyudivka as soon as possible for their safety," the embassy said.

Six flights from the Romanian capital Bucharest will bring back on Wednesday over 1,200 Indian students who have fled the war-hit Ukraine.

India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut down since February 24.

Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is in Bucharest, said he met Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Wednesday to thank his government for facilitating entry and ensuring the safety of Indian citizens amid the "grim situation" at the Ukrainian borders.

Scindia said on Twitter the Romanian prime minister has assured his continued support to Indian students crossing the Romanian borders.

"We shared a mutual interest in expanding bilateral trade given the huge economic potential and presence of Indian businesses in Romania," he noted.

The aviation minister also said: "We are mounting six flights today (Wednesday) in Bucharest, Romania, carrying over 1,200 Indian students back to India."

He thanked Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo for rising to the challenge and working round-the-clock with the government on the evacuation operations.

Scindia on Wednesday also held a meeting with heads of Indian companies that work in Romania to decentralise evacuation operations for Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.

Approximately 8,000 Indians, mainly students, are stranded in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday.

02/03/22 PTI/New Indian Express

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IAF can send 4 aircraft daily, bring 200 in one round, says Vice Chief of Air Staff

New Delhi: Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh on Wednesday said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) can send up to four aircraft to help the Centre’s efforts to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine under ‘Operation Ganga’.

He also informed that the four aircraft can bring back 200 people on each trip.

Addressing a press conference, Singh assured that the Air Force would safely bring back stranded Indians in Ukraine, and said, “IAF can send four aircraft in a day to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine, and 200 people will be brought back in one round. I am sure we will bring all our people back safely.”

He apprised that, since today morning, three IAF aircraft have been sent to evacuate Indians.

“The evacuation operation will run round the clock. Relief materials are also being sent. The operation is underway in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),” Singh said.

Notably, another IAF aircraft is scheduled to fly to Poland to facilitate the evacuation of stranded Indians.

The Vice Chief of Air Staff informed that the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States will not affect the IAF significantly.

“India’s relations with both countries are strong,” he added.

02/03/22 ANI/Print

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53 Telangana students evacuated safely from Ukraine, reveals data

Hyderabad: As many as 53 students from Telangana, who were studying in various universities across Ukraine, have been evacuated and brought back to the state between February 26 and 28. The state government has made arrangements for the picking up of students from the state at the airports in New Delhi and Mumbai. 

The government is also booking flight tickets for them to Hyderabad. A special team led by an IAS officer has been appointed at the airports to receive students. The officials are also in touch with Telangana students who are still in Ukraine. Helpline centres at the Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi and Telangana Secretariat have also been set up.

TSRTC Managing Director  VC Sajjanar on Monday announced that free rides will be provided to those returning from Ukraine to any place within the state.

Indian Embassy officials informed that as Ukraine was impacted by the war, train delays, cancellations and long queues would be common. Students in the eastern European country were also requested to travel in groups, and asked to carry their passports, cash, ready-to-eat meals, winter clothes and other essentials

01/03/22 New Indian Express

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Only Air India Flight Could Enter Ukraine's Closed Airspace? No!

A photograph showing the flight path of an Air India flight AI121 has gone viral to claim that the airline was the only one to be brave enough to enter Ukraine's airspace, which has been closed for all civilians flights since 24 February, amid the war with Russia.

The claim comes while India is trying to evacuate its nationals who are stuck in different cities of Ukraine. Around 16,000 Indian nationals, including students, have been trapped in the country since Russian President Putin invaded the country on Thursday, 24 February.

However, we found that the flight mentioned in the map didn't enter Ukraine's air space. The flight path available of flight-tracking websits show that the flight, which travels between Delhi and Frankfurt, avoided Ukraine’s airspace.

Those sharing the image said, "This single plane which is flying in the Russia-Ukraine war zone sky is a reflection of the power of new India. When no country dares to fly there, it is Air-India which is flying in the warzone to airlift Indian nationals who are stuck there."

Several claims with the same image tried to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government for evacuating Indian citizens from Ukraine.

The managing editor of News18 India, Amish Devgan, also shared the viral image with a caption that read, "This single picture tells the whole story. यह नया भारत है । जय हिंद". [Translation: This is new India. Jai Hind.] However, he later deleted the tweet.

Following Putin's invasion of Ukraine and declaration of war, Ukraine closed its airspace on 24 February.

We then looked at the flight number mentioned in the viral image. It said the flight was AI-121, going from New Delhi to Frankfurt, Germany. We checked the flight's journey on Planefinder's website on 24 February and found that the aircraft avoided Ukraine's airspace completely.

We also checked the flight routes since 24 February to 28 February, and found that none of the flights - incoming or outgoing - entered Ukraine's airspace.

The flight path on another flight tracking website, Flightradar24, also showed the same route.

We then conducted a reverse image search of the viral image and found that original image was posted by a Twitter user called, "@QuebecTango".

The user shared the viral image with a caption that read, "Air Traffic Control: Avoid the area - there's a war on! Air India: LEEEEEROOOOYYYYY JEEEENKINNNNS!!!".

The caption referred to a popular meme from the multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft.

The Twitter user later clarified that there was a glitch on the Planefinder application, which resulted in altered flight path for the Air India flight.

Evidently, an incorrectly depicted flight path of an Air India flight, originally shared as a joke, went viral with a misleading claim.

28/02/22 Abhilash Mallick/Quint

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Students from Ukraine couldn’t come back on time as Air India increased fare of tickets: Chhattisgarh CM

New Delhi: As the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine is going on under ‘Operation Ganga’, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday alleged that Air India has increased the fare of tickets of its flights from Ukraine due to which many students could not come back on time.

Speaking to ANI, Baghel said, “Air India has increased the fare of tickets from Rs 24,000-Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000- Rs 80,000, had it been the same, many more students would have possibly come back on time.”

The Chief Minister further requested the Government of India to bring students near the border so that they are evacuated safely and also urged to increase the number of evacuation flights.

“The students stranded in Kharkiv and Kyiv are facing a lot of difficulties. I request the Government of India to bring these students near the border so that they are evacuated safely. Also, the number of evacuation planes should be increased,” he added.

The second special evacuation flight of Air India carrying 250 Indians landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday. Air India’s AI-1942 has been operated as a special charter flight from Bucharest to Delhi Airport.

The first flight from Romania carrying 219 Indian students reached Mumbai on Saturday evening.

The third flight to Delhi with 240 Indian nationals has also taken off from Hungary’s Budapest under Operation Ganga, informed Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar.

So far, a total of 469 Indian nationals have been evacuated from war-hit Ukraine.

27/02/22 ANI/Print

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Chandigarh to start direct flights to London from October

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh International Airport is likely to start direct flight service to London from October this year. This decision will come as a huge relief to the people of Punjab who want to travel to the United Kingdom.

“The authorities had a meeting with the British High Commission about starting the flight to London. Proposals have been sent and it is expected to start from October, as the process will take nearly eight months to complete. The direct flight will most likely be to the Heathrow Airport in London or Birmingham airport, which is around 170km from the UK capital,” Rakesh Dembla, chief executive officer, Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHAIL), told Hindustan Times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chandigarh International airport six years ago in 2015.

The airport currently has two international flights to Sharjah and Dubai as of now.

Dembla said the Sharjah flight was operational currently, while that to Dubai will resume from March 28, when the summer flight schedule will kick in.

28/02/22 India Today

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Ukraine crisis: IndiGo to operate flights to Budapest to bring back Indians

IndiGo will operate two flights to Budapest to bring back Indians who are stranded in Ukraine, according to an official. The flights will be operated on Monday and Tuesday from Delhi.

They will first fly to Istanbul and then to Budapest in Hungary. In the return leg, the flights will come to Istanbul and then to Delhi.

Amid the intensifying conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the Indian government is bringing back its citizens stranded in Ukraine.

Currently, Air India is operating evacuation flights to bring back stranded Indians in the Eastern European country.

27/02/22 PTI/Economic Times

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Kerala govt to pay for domestic airfare of students arriving in Air India flights

On February 26, the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Kerala government will bear the cost of flight tickets for the students arriving in Delhi and Mumbai on evacuation flights arranged by the Union Government from Ukraine which is under attack from Russian forces.

Vijayan said steps have been taken by the state government to collect the details of Keralites reaching the country from Ukraine.

The Kerala Resident Commissioner in Delhi and the NORKA officials will ensure facilities for the smooth travel of students to the state from airports of Delhi and Mumbai, Vijayan said.

"The state government will provide flight tickets to Kerala for the students arriving at Delhi and Mumbai airports on evacuation flights arranged by the Union Government from Ukraine. The District Collectors have been directed to receive the students arriving at the airports in Kerala and to arrange the necessary facilities," Vijayan said.

The eastern European nation has been under attack since February 24. The Left government had earlier sought the intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safety of 2,320 students from Kerala studying in Ukraine.

27/02/22 ZeeNews

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Ukraine-Russia war: Flights to India from Europe to take longer than usual

The ongoing Ukrainian crisis is having a deep impact on the aviation industry. As per recent reports, the flights from India to Europe will take longer than usual. This longer duration comes as a result of the ban of usage of Ukrainian airspace and the Russian government’s ban on any British flights in its airspace.

Virgin Atlantic's Delhi-London flights will have a slightly longer flying time by 15-60 minutes as the Russian government has banned all British planes from crossing its airspace.

In response to the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, the Boris Johnson government announced that Russian national carrier Aeroflot would not be allowed to land in the UK earlier this week.

Consequently, the Russian government on Friday announced that British planes would not be allowed to land in Russia or use Russian airspace.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said on Friday: "On Thursday evening, we took the decision to start avoiding Russian airspace, and our flight paths will continue to be adjusted for some Virgin Atlantic passenger services between the UK and India."

The spokesperson apologised for the inconvenience caused to customers by slightly longer flight times.

"Four Virgin Atlantic services typically overfly Russia - flights between London Heathrow and Islamabad, Lahore, Delhi and services between Manchester and Islamabad", the spokesperson said.

"Avoiding Russian airspace will result in slightly longer flight times by 15-60 minutes, depending on the route," the spokesperson added.

26/02/22 ZeeNews

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The First Group Of Tamil Nadu Students From Ukraine Has Arrived

The five Tamil Nadu students studying in Ukraine, as well as their families, were relieved when they arrived in Chennai on Sunday morning after being safely evacuated from the country, Ukraine which is currently resisting going through a Russian invasion.

All five were students at the Bukovinian State Medical University, which is located in western Ukraine near the Romanian border. In comparison to the eastern section of the country, which shares a border with Russia, this region has been comparatively unaffected by the continuing conflict.

The students were bused to the Romanian border, then brought to the Bucharest airport in Romania, while being travelled to Delhi and then Chennai.

A first-year student from Pudukkottai region who only recently visited for her studies explained that the situation was deteriorating when they departed. They were shown the bunkers and the precautions to be taken in the event of an assault by the University. There was no food or water scarcity. ATMs and other similar facilities, on the other hand, were not operational. The institution, as well as the Indian agency through which they were admitted, were praised by the students for their assistance. They booked a bus to take them to the Romanian border.

27/02/22 Susmita Modak/Hans India

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51 Gujarat students arrive home from Ukraine

Ahmedabad: As many as 51 students from Gujarat who were stuck in war-torn Ukraine arrived in various cities of the state Sunday after their evacuation flight from Romanian capital of Bucharest landed in Mumbai Saturday night.

Of the 51 students, 15 reached Ahmedabad from Mumbai around 2 pm on a Volvo bus arranged by the Gujarat government. Another 15 students were dropped at Vadodara and the remaining in other cities such as Vapi, Ankleshwar and Anand during the journey.

All 15 students who arrived in Ahmedabad are medical students pursuing their six-year MBBS course in Bukovinian State Medical University (BSMU) in Chernivtsi of Ukraine. Around 1,500-2,000 students from India are currently enrolled in BSMU.

Nilesh Tiwari (20), a third-year student at BSMU, said they were evacuated as per a list of Indian students sent by the university to the embassy. “We were evacuated as per the list. Students of the last two lists from the university are yet to be evacuated. We reached the Romania border by bus and over there, the embassy officials made us cross the border. Our immigration was done on the spot. From the border, we reached the Bucharest city airport in Romania by bus, which was also arranged by the embassy officials,” said Tiwari.

The students arrived in Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on a special Air India flight from the Bucharest airport. State Education Minister Jitu Vaghani said another flight has landed in Delhi in which another 27 students from the state have arrived. They, too, will be brought home on a Volvo bus. “The remaining students from Gujarat who are still stuck in Ukraine will be brought to India at the earliest,” he assured.

Vaghani said both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel acted as parents of the stranded students. “…the governments of both Narendrabhai and Bhupendrabhai became their (the students’) parents and ensured their return from Ukraine to India. Discussions were made with Russia, Ukraine and other neighbouring countries to ensure that students from Gujarat return to their homes,” said Vaghani during a felicitation ceremony organised by the state government at Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) building in Vastrapur of Ahmedabad.

27/02/22 Indian Express

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Andhra students arrive from Ukraine at Rajahmahendravaram airport

Telugu students from Ukraine Challa Sudarshan and Rajanala Sushma have at last arrived in Rajamahendravaram Airport on Sunday. Parents of the students arrived in a large number to RJY airport. They expressed their joy after seeing their parents at the airport. The students belong to Gollaprolu village of Pithapuram Mandal , East Godavari district. Sudarshan and Sushma are final year MBBS in Ukraine. Speaking to "The Hans India '' Sudarshan said that as their University is located abetting Rumania and hence they could easily come to India. She said that the impact of the war in Western Ukraine is hardly felt whereas in Eastern Ukraine the impact is great and terrifying. She said that soon after the war was declared they were subject to fear and panic.

They were greatly frightened because of the continuous heavy bombardment. Soon after the war was declared they were hard pressed to seek shelter. The University authorities are advising them to leave immediately soon after they get an opportunity. She said that as their University is located abetting Rumania and hence they could easily come to India. They said that soon after the war was declared they were subject to fear and panic. Sushma said that they were greatly frightened because of the continuous heavy bombardment. Soon after the war was declared they were hard pressed to seek shelter.

27/02/22 Hans India

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Two students from Ukraine arrive at Gannavaram Airport

Vijayawada: It was a memorable day for two medical students – Kasani Kavyasri and Sai Praveen, who were stranded in Ukraine, as they met their family members at Gannavaram airport on Sunday. They left the airport in Romania on Saturday, reached Mumbai and finally came to Gannavaram via Shamshabad airport.

Kavyasri is studying third year MBBS in Bukovinian State Medical University in Western Ukraine. She safely reached the Ukraine-Romania border where the Indian embassy officials took her to the airport where she boarded a flight from Bucharest, Romania. The Central government is operating special flights from Romania to India to lift the stranded Indian students.

Another student Sai Praveen from Guntur is studying fourth year MBBS in Chernivtsi city in Western Ukraine. He along with other Indian students crossed the border and reached Romania. He boarded the flight in Romania and finally came to Gannavaram airport.

27/02/22 Hans India

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Third evacuation flight brings back 240 Indians from Budapest

Emotions ran high at the Delhi airport as the anxious wait of several parents to reunite with their children arriving from Ukraine ended in joy with the landing of the third evacuation flight on Sunday morning. 

The Indira Gandhi International Airport became a witness to a plethora of emotions as parents gave their children a grand welcome with flowers, cards and warm hugs upon their arrival from the Hungarian capital Budapest.

Air India’s third evacuation flight, AI1940, which was scheduled to land at around 7am, reached a couple of hours late at 9.20am. At around 2.45am, Air India’s second evacuation flight from Romania’s capital, Bucharest, brought back 250 Indians to Delhi. The first evacuation flight, AI1944, had brought 229 people from Bucharest to Mumbai on Saturday evening. 

As the returnees belong to different states, several states have established help desks and provided transport services from the Delhi airport to their homes. 

Shashank Sharashwat, a first-year medical student, thanked the Indian government and the embassy for facilitating his return along with the others. “Now, we are safe. The situation in Ukraine is quite tense,” he said. 

A majority of the 240 students that landed in the third evacuation flight were studying in the western city of the Uzhhorod, which is one of the cities least affected due to the Russian military operation. 

27/02/22 Federal

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First batch of 15 Telangana students from Ukraine reach Hyderabad

Hyderabad: First batch of 15 students of Telangana, who were evacuated from war-torn Ukraine, reached here on Sunday.

Emotional scenes were witnessed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport as parents and other family members received the students who landed here from Mumbai.

These students were part of 218 evacuees, who reached Mumbai on Saturday night by the first evacuation flight of Air India, which had taken off from Bucharest.

Officials from the Telangana government received the students at Hyderabad Airport. Principal Secretary, General Administration Department, Vikas Raj and MLA Prakash Goud were among those who welcomed the students.

The students thanked the government of India and the state government for ensuring their safe evacuation.

They said they crossed the border to reach Romania and from there they boarded the flight. The students said the Indian embassy and the authorities of their universities rendered all the assistance for their return.

"We were in the west side of Ukraine which is a safe zone as the war happening on eastern side. We crossed the border to reach Romania by bus. We were somewhat scared but thanks to the efforts of the Indian embassy and our university authorities, we reached Romania safely and from there boarded the flight," said one of the students.

27/02/22 IANS/Business Standard

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Air India flight carrying 240 students from Ukraine lands in Delhi

 New Delhi: Another special Air India flight, which flew from Hungary with 240 students, who were stranded in Ukraine, has reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport here.

The flight landed at Terminal number 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport. As of now the students are inside and a few formalities are being done.

Help Desks have been made available by the state governments to felicitate the students reaching their homes from the airport.

A few family members of some students also reached the airport to receive them.

"Buses were provided, planes were provided and we haven't been charged a single penny. My daughter was in the western part of Ukraine where war hadn't started at that time. Now she has reached here. I am feeling happy, our kids are safe," said Kumar, father of a student.

27/02/22 IANS/Mid Day

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Air Force on standby, pulls out of UK drill

New Delhi: The IAF is keeping its transport aircraft on stand-by if the need arises to supplement Air India's ongoing effort to evacuate Indian nationals from war-hit Ukraine, even as a multi-nation exercise, which the force was to take part in the UK next month, now stands cancelled.

The government has told the defence ministry that while commercial aircraft are being deployed to evacuate Indians from Ukraine, the IAF should be ready for the "provision of airlift" if required. The IAF is "geared up" to respond to any contingency with its C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft, which were used to airlift Indians stranded in Afghanistan.

The IAF had virtually decided to pull out of the exercise in view of the "unpredictable situation" arising out of the Ukraine crisis when news of the exercise itself being scrapped came in.

27/02/22 Times of India

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Relief as first batch of students arrive at Kochi airport

Kochi: “We were lucky to be on the first evacuation flight and we are thankful to the government for bringing us home. But thousands of Indian students, including hundreds of our Malayali friends, are still stranded there and some of them are in the middle of the war zone fearing for their lives. We will be happy only if all of them are brought back safely,” said Greeshma Rachel Thomas, a native of Thiruvalla and a student of Bukovinian State Medical University in Western Ukraine, who landed at Kochi airport from New Delhi on Sunday afternoon after being evacuated from the war-hitUkraine.

The concern expressed by Greeshma for her friends and other Indian students in Ukraine was shared by almost all other evacuated students who landed at Kochi in three flights, one from Mumbai and two from New Delhi.

Many of the parents were tearful though all of them were happy to see their children again. Santhosh Kumar, father of Gaadha S, a native of Thevakkal in Ernakulam who studies at Bukovinian State Medical University, said that none of the students who were evacuated in the first two flights faced much difficulty other than connectivity issues and difficulty to withdraw cash from ATMs. “We are happy to see our kids. But all of them were in the ex treme west of Ukraine and did not face any horrors of the war.

As many as 44 students reached Kochi while 13 and 25 students landed in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in seven flights, taking the total number of evacuated Malayali students to 82 on the first day of Operation Ganga. 

27/02/22 Times of India

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Ban on regular commercial international passenger flights extended

The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the ban on regular commercial international passenger flights until further orders.

In a circular dated February 28, the DGCA informed that the flights under air bubble arrangements and international cargo flights will continue.

India has air transport bubbles with Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, US and Uzbekistan.

The Indian government in November 2021 had also planned to resume scheduled international flight operations from December 15 onwards. But this plan was derailed due to the emergence of Omicron which lead to the government withdrawing the decision to resume scheduled international flights.

27/02/22 Economic Times

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IndiGo to operate flights to Budapest, Bucharest to evacuate Indians

The country's largest carrier IndiGo will operate flights to Budapest and Bucharest to bring back Indians who are stranded in Ukraine, according to an airline official.

For now, the airline has decided to operate one flight each to Budapest (Hungary) and Bucharest (Romania). The flights will be operated through Istanbul.

Earlier, the carrier was scheduled to operate two flights to Budapest.

The official on Sunday said the schedule has been revised and now one flight will leave for Budapest from Istanbul on Monday and return to Delhi on Tuesday.

Another flight will leave from Istanbul to Bucharest on Monday and return to Delhi on Tuesday, as per the official.

The reason for the revision in schedule could not be immediately ascertained.

Amid the intensifying conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the Indian government is bringing back its citizens stranded in Ukraine.

27/02/22 PTI/Business Standard

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SpiceJet to operate special flight to Budapest to evacuate stranded Indians

SpiceJet has announced it will operate a special evacuation flight to Budapest, Hungary to bring home Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine.

The airline will use its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for this special flight. The aircraft will fly to Budapest from Delhi and the return fight will operate via Kutaisi, Georgia.

SpiceJet is planning to operate more evacuation flights and is in discussion with concerned authorities.

27/02/22 FreePressJournal

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Mission airlift: As fighting surges in Ukraine, India continues to send evacuation flights for its stranded citizens

India continued to send evacuation flights to Romania and Hungary to bring back stranded Indians as the invading Russian forces came closer and closer to the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv.

India's second evacuation flight, AI1942, landed in Delhi from Bucharest around 2.45 am on Sunday with 250 passengers, and a third with 240 people left from Budapest and landed with 240 people at 9.20 am, PTI quoted officials as saying.

India's first evacuation flight, AI1944, brought back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai on Saturday evening.

An Air India spokesperson said the airline's fourth evacuation flight is expected to come from Bucharest to Delhi with evacuees on Sunday afternoon.

The spokesperson said there were plans to send two more planes to Bucharest and Budapest on Sunday so that they can operate fifth and sixth evacuation flights but it is "all highly tentative".

"Fourth #OperationGanga flight is wheels up from Bucharest. 198 Indian nationals are coming back to Delhi," Jaishankar tweeted.

In an earlier tweet, he said: "Third flight of #OperationGanga with 240 Indian nationals has taken off from Budapest for Delhi."

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia greeted the evacuees at the Delhi airport.

27/02/22 PTI/Tribune

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Students from Ukraine couldn’t come back on time as Air India increased fare of tickets: Chhattisgarh CM

New Delhi: As the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine is going on under ‘Operation Ganga’, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday alleged that Air India has increased the fare of tickets of its flights from Ukraine due to which many students could not come back on time.

Speaking to ANI, Baghel said, “Air India has increased the fare of tickets from Rs 24,000-Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000- Rs 80,000, had it been the same, many more students would have possibly come back on time.”

The Chief Minister further requested the Government of India to bring students near the border so that they are evacuated safely and also urged to increase the number of evacuation flights.

“The students stranded in Kharkiv and Kyiv are facing a lot of difficulties. I request the Government of India to bring these students near the border so that they are evacuated safely. Also, the number of evacuation planes should be increased,” he added.

The second special evacuation flight of Air India carrying 250 Indians landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday. Air India’s AI-1942 has been operated as a special charter flight from Bucharest to Delhi Airport.

The first flight from Romania carrying 219 Indian students reached Mumbai on Saturday evening.

The third flight to Delhi with 240 Indian nationals has also taken off from Hungary’s Budapest under Operation Ganga, informed Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar.

So far, a total of 469 Indian nationals have been evacuated from war-hit Ukraine.

27/02/22 ANI/Print

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Ukraine Crisis: All ATCs, including Pakistan, gave full cooperation in evacuation mission, says Air India Pilot

New Delhi: A special evacuation flight of Air India carrying 250 Indians landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday. Air India’s AI-1942 has been operated as a special charter flight from Bucharest to Delhi Airport.

Aircraft Pilot-in-Command Captain Achint Bhardwaj spoke exclusively to ANI after landing at Delhi Airport and said that all Air Traffic Controls (ATCs), including that of Pakistan, extended support during the evacuation mission.

“Interesting that we have good support from all the ATCs network till the Romanian and back to Delhi, via Tehran even the Pakistan, Pakistan has also given a direct route to us without asking due to direct route we saved the time too,” Anchit Bhardwaj, Air India pilot told ANI.

Ukraine Crisis: All ATCs, including Pakistan, gave full cooperation in evacuation mission, says Air India Pilot

Over two dozen of crew members was on board of Air India special aircraft. Five pilots, 14 cabin crew, three aircraft engineers and two security personnel were deployed for the special flight to Romania.

“It was a well-coordinated effort. It was special for us to airlift them (Indian students) back into their home country. We are glad to complete this process on time,” said Captain Anchit Bhardwaj on being asked about the challenges he faced.

“We don’t fly on the Romania route but usually overfly Romania for Europe but it was well coordinated with ATC and Government,” AI Captain said.

Unions Minister for civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and MoS MEA V Muraleedharan welcome the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine via Bucharest (Romania) at Delhi airport.

According to a viral video, Anchit Bhardwaj, who made headlines around the world after landing the aircraft in the midst of a storm in London, is the one who got the plane to land safely in London.

The first flight from Romania carrying 219 Indian students reached Mumbai on Saturday evening.

The third flight to Delhi with 240 Indian nationals has also taken off from Hungary’s Budapest under Operation Ganga, informed Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar.

27/02/22 ANI/Print

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Mumbai Airport’s Arrangements For Indians Arriving From Ukraine

An Air India flight carrying evacuees from war-hit Ukraine is expected to land at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai later today. The flight has reached the Bucharest Airport in Romania   

“Indian embassy in Ukraine and Romania are evacuating us from Ukraine to move us back to India. Since the time we landed here, the Indian embassy in Romania has been taking care of everything,” a student said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has blocked a special corridor for Indians arriving from Ukraine later in the day. They’ll be required to produce either a Covid-19 vaccination certificate/negative RT-PCR report on arrival.

In case any passenger is not able to show any of the documents at the time of arrival, they will have to undergo RT-PCR testing at the airport, where the cost would be borne by the airport.

These passengers would be able to leave the airport after testing negative. If any passenger is tested positive, they shall be clinically managed as per the protocols laid down by the government.

26/02/22 Ev Richard/VerveTimes

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Bravery or foolishness? Air India flight flies through Ukrainian air space

Guwahati, Feb 26: Term it as bravery or sheer foolishness, a commercial Air India flight was spotted in war-ravaged air space of Ukraine. The air space over Ukraine and its border with Russia is empty and heavy air traffic has been avoided in the region since Thursday, however, the spotting of the Air India flight has left everyone astounded. As per a flight tracking app FlightRadar24, the Ukrainian air space which has been emptied following the Russian invasion, an Air India flight AI121, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Delhi, India to Frankfurt, Germany was spotted.

According to reports, the Air India flight AI121 simply barreled through the closed airspace, over the marauding "Ghost of Kyiv", the Battle of Antonov Airport where the An-225 was reportedly changing hands every four hours depending on which reports you believed, and all the other chaos erupting below.

Considering the risks of civil flights operating in the conflict zone all civilian aircraft have been restricted over Ukraine and parts of Russia. Hundreds of flights were diverted around Ukraine after the country closed its airspace. The decision of flying over the conflict zone where jets and fighter planes were pounding missiles could have turned out to be fatal. Given the risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civilian aircraft, at all altitudes and flight levels, fortunately, all the passengers landed safely in Frankfurt.

26/02/22 Assam Tribune

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US aviation regulator adds Ukraine, Belarus, parts of Russia to no-fly zone

Washington: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US has said it is extending its no-fly zone in eastern Europe as conflicts in Ukraine are unfolding.

The FAA on Thursday said in a statement that it issued Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) expanding the area in eastern Europe and Russia where US airlines and US pilots cannot operate.

"The expanded NOTAMs now cover the entire country of Ukraine, the whole country of Belarus and a western portion of Russia," the statement said.

NOTAM is a notice containing information essential to personnel concerned with flight operations but not known far enough in advance to be publicised by other means, Xinhua news agency reported.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised "a special military operation" in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Kiev has confirmed military targets across the eastern European nation were under attack and severed diplomatic relations with Moscow.

25/02/22 IANS/Business Standard

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Hindu Nationalists Urge Government To Reject New Air India CEO

A Hindu nationalist group close to India's ruling party is calling on the government to block the appointment of Ilker Ayci as chief executive of Air India, citing his previous political links in Turkey, with which New Delhi has strained relations.

The call from the economic wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, comes as government agencies carry out what one government official said were more intensive than usual background checks on Ayci, who was an adviser in 1994 to Tayyip Erdogan, when the Turkish president was mayor of Istanbul.

Ayci, a former chairman of Turkish Airlines, did not answer repeated calls by Reuters for comment.

Tata Group, the Indian conglomerate which announced Ayci's appointment as CEO of previously state-run Air India after recently taking over the debt-laden airline in a $2.4 billion equity and debt deal, also did not respond. read more

In its Feb. 14 statement announcing Ayci's appointment, Tata said Ayci was "an aviation industry leader" who would "lead Air India into the new era". Ayci said in the same statement that he was delighted to lead "an iconic airline".

Ashwani Mahajan, co-convenor of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, which is seen as having significant influence on Indian policy making, said the government must not approve Ayci's appointment as Turkey had been sympathetic to India's rival Pakistan.

"It (Air India) has been a national carrier and it still carries the same importance ... Tata should not get clearance for this," Mahajan told Reuters.

The appointment of a foreign national as CEO of an airline in India requires government clearance before it can proceed.

26/02/22 Business World

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Air India plane departs from Mumbai for Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine

New Delhi: An Air India plane departed from the Mumbai airport on Saturday morning for Romanian capital Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.

The flight, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 AM and is expected to land at the Bucharest airport around 10 AM (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.

Indian nationals who have reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road are being taken to Bucharest by Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flight, they noted.

Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since the morning of February 24 and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

26/02/22 PTI/Times of India

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Ukraine-Russia war: Airspace closure won't impact flights from India to Europe, North America

As the war between Ukraine and Russia intensifies, Ukraine has closed its airspace, stopping all international airlines to use its airspace for flight ops. While some India-based airlines, including Air India, operate flights to Europe and North America, these flight operations do not use the conflicted airspace over Ukraine much.

Consequently, hardly any impact is expected to be witnessed on out-bound flights from India to Western Europe and North America. Besides, Air India will not operate its special flights to Kiev anymore after a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued about the closure of airspace over Ukraine.

According to industry sources, the airspace is closed for civilian traffic. The development assumes significance as many Indian students and professionals are stranded in Ukraine. The Indian Embassy has issued an advisory for students and citizens living in Ukraine, urging them not to move out and stay put wherever they are.

The Embassy has also asked the students and citizens in Kiev to stay in touch with the Embassy via its official social media handles. Air India`s flight bound for Kiev from New Delhi on Thursday returned to the national capital`s IGI Airport after the NOTAM was announced at Kiev airport and airspace was closed over Ukraine. The flight had left Delhi at 7.30 a.m. only to return at 12.30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the airline had operated the first of its special flights ferrying Indian citizens from Ukraine. Apart from Air India, other Indian operators were expected to start special flight services to Ukraine.

25/02/22 ZeeNews

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Indian passengers from Ukraine can return through Qatar, says govt

The Centre on Thursday said Indian passengers from Ukraine can return via Qatar, with aviation industry experts stating that civilian flights will restart from Ukraine only when its airspace opens.

Currently 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in Ukraine.

Since the Ukrainian airspace is closed due to the Russian military offensive, it is currently not clear how they are to travel from Ukraine to Qatar to take Qatar-India flights, which are operating normally.

The authorities of the eastern European country issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) Thursday morning stating that civilian flights within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation".

The Indian Embassy in Qatar said on Twitter, "Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers traveling from Ukraine to travel by transit under India-Qatar bilateral air bubble arrangement." This means that the passengers coming from Ukraine to Qatar will be able to board flights operating between Qatar and India.

25/02/22 PTI/Business Standard

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Rajasthan To Reimburse Ticket Costs Of Citizens Returning From Ukraine

Jaipur: Amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said the ticket amount of Rajasthanis coming back to the homeland from Ukraine on their personal expenses will be reimbursed.

Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said, "During the war situation between Ukraine and Russia, after the advisory of the Ministry of External Affairs, the ticket amount of Rajasthanis coming back to their homeland from personal expenses will be reimbursed."

"Instructions have been given by the Rajasthan Government to facilitate homecoming of Rajasthanis arriving at Delhi, Mumbai and other airports. For this, the Rajasthan Foundation will co-ordinate," Gehlot tweeted in Hindi.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

26/02/22 ANI/NDTV

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Travelling to Thailand? SpiceJet announces six flights to Bangkok from March 10

SpiceJet announced that it would start operating six flights between India and Bangkok on March 10. Three Indian cities - New Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai - will be connected to Thailand's capital by SpiceJet. Following SpiceJet's announcement of new flights to Bangkok, the airline has announced several other new routes as it expands its network.

In a press release, the airline said, "The airline will introduce daily direct flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata with the Thai capital." Thailand is a popular tourist destination for Indians, made even more affordable by Indian low-cost carriers.

The airline will be deploying Boeing 737 aircraft to operate all India-Bangkok flights, it stated, adding the Kolkata-Bangkok flight and the return flight will begin from March 10.

SpiceJet has opened bookings on their website, and starting one-way fares are upwards of Rs 12,000 from Delhi and Mumbai and approximately Rs 10,000 from Kolkata.

26/02/22 ZeeNews

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Russia-Ukraine conflict: How is India responding, as Indian students are stuck?

Russian forces fired missiles at several targets as loud explosions were reported in Ukraine, officials and media said on Thursday (February 24). 

Reports also mentioned that Russia has landed troops on its coast after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east. 

Amid escalating tensions, high-level meetings are underway in India's Ministry of External Affairs to discuss the contingency plans that are being put into operation to activate alternate routes to bring back stranded citizens from Ukraine, sources claimed.  

Ukrainian authorities closed the airspace to civilian flights citing a high risk to safety and given airspace closure, alternate evacuation routes are being activated.  

Additional Russian speaking officials have been sent to our Embassy in Ukraine and are being deployed in countries neighbouring Ukraine. 

Sources further informed that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine is functional and its advisories should be followed carefully.

Meanwhile, a special Air India flight returning from mid-air as Ukraine airspace is closed due to notice to airmen (NOTAM) as war has been started between Russia and Ukraine. 

India-based news agency ANI reported citing sources that an empty flight of Air India AI-1947 is returning from over Iran air space as Ukraine imposed restrictions on civilian aircraft. 

"Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," Air India informed. 

Previously, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine said, "We call for an immediate de-escalation." 

He added that the situation is in danger of "spiralling into a major crisis" and if not handled carefully, it may undermine security, adding the security of all parties should be taken into account. 

"Over 20,000 Indian students are in Ukraine, we are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals including students as we may be required," Tirumurti said.

24/02/22 WION

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First Air India evacuation flight departs from Bucharest with 250 Indians; second flight on course

New Delhi: Air India's first evacuation flight departed from Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday afternoon for Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine due to the ongoing Russian military offensive, officials said.

The airline's second evacuation flight departed from Delhi at 11.40 AM and is expected to land in Bucharest at around 6.30 PM (Indian Standard Time), they noted. Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road have been taken to Bucharest by Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flights, they said.

The first evacuation flight AI1944 departed from Bucharest at 1.55 PM (Indian Standard Time) and is expected to land at the Mumbai airport at around 9 PM, they said. The second evacuation flight AI1942 is expected to return to the Delhi airport on early Sunday morning with another 250 Indian nationals, they mentioned.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter that AI1944 with "219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania".

"Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock.I am personally monitoring," he added. Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.

26/02/22 New Indian Express

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SpiceJet to start six Bangkok flights from March 10

SpiceJet on Friday said it will start six flights between India and Bangkok from March 10 onwards. "The airline will introduce daily direct flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata with the Thai capital," the airline's press release said.

The airline will be deploying B737 aircraft to operate all India-Bangkok flights, it stated, adding the Kolkata-Bangkok flight and the return flight will begin from March 10.

The Delhi-Bangkok flight and the return flight will begin from March 10, it noted.

SpiceJet will start Mumbai-Bangkok flight and the return flight from March 17, it said.

25/02/22 PTI/Economic Times

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Ukraine-Russia war: Airspace closure won't impact flights from India to Europe, North America

As the war between Ukraine and Russia intensifies, Ukraine has closed its airspace, stopping all international airlines to use its airspace for flight ops. While some India-based airlines, including Air India, operate flights to Europe and North America, these flight operations do not use the conflicted airspace over Ukraine much.

Consequently, hardly any impact is expected to be witnessed on out-bound flights from India to Western Europe and North America. Besides, Air India will not operate its special flights to Kiev anymore after a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued about the closure of airspace over Ukraine.

According to industry sources, the airspace is closed for civilian traffic. The development assumes significance as many Indian students and professionals are stranded in Ukraine. The Indian Embassy has issued an advisory for students and citizens living in Ukraine, urging them not to move out and stay put wherever they are.

The Embassy has also asked the students and citizens in Kiev to stay in touch with the Embassy via its official social media handles. Air India`s flight bound for Kiev from New Delhi on Thursday returned to the national capital`s IGI Airport after the NOTAM was announced at Kiev airport and airspace was closed over Ukraine. The flight had left Delhi at 7.30 a.m. only to return at 12.30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the airline had operated the first of its special flights ferrying Indian citizens from Ukraine. Apart from Air India, other Indian operators were expected to start special flight services to Ukraine.

25/02/22 ZeeNews

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SpiceJet to start six Bangkok flights from Mar 10 onward

New Delhi: SpiceJet on Friday said it will start six flights between India and Bangkok from March 10 onwards.  “The airline will introduce daily direct flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata with the Thai capital,” the airline’s press release said.

The airline will be deploying B737 aircraft to operate all India-Bangkok flights, it stated, adding the Kolkata-Bangkok flight and the return flight will begin from March 10.

The Delhi-Bangkok flight and the return flight will begin from March 10, it noted.

SpiceJet will start Mumbai-Bangkok flight and the return flight from March 17, it said. 

25/02/22 Print

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Russia-Ukraine conflict may cloud skies for Indian aviation, warn experts

The Russian military action in Ukraine may stem recovery in the world’s third-largest domestic airline market if the crisis is not resolved early.

Since India curtailed international operations in March 2020, overseas flights from the country can only be operated under “transport bubbles”, a euphemism for temporary air travel accords. Earlier on Thursday, Air India suspended special flights to the Ukraine capital after reports emerged of the Russian air force bombing Kyiv airport.

Some industry experts said that it was still early to assess the full impact of the escalation.

“The real impact of the situation in Ukraine is yet to be ascertained. From an industry perspective, it will have consequences for international travel. However, domestic travel may not be affected to a great extent. A lot will depend on how quickly the government moves in to open up international travel from here on,” averred partner Deloitte India, Sumit Singhania.

However, as brent crude surged to $105 a barrel at 1630 IST, up from the previous close at 8.45 per cent, experts warned of a steep rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices eroding fourth-quarter earnings of Indian carriers.

“If crude oil prices stay high for some time, it will impact the overall sector. Thus, one needs to watch out for price volatility in the commodity markets to understand the economic impact of the conflict,” remarked practice leader & director, transport and logistics at CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory, Jagannarayan Padmanabhan.

“The consequent rise in ATF prices is an area of concern. But that was not unanticipated as crude prices have been rising steadily over the past few weeks. Fears have been expressed that oil prices could touch the earlier high of more than $140 a barrel. We, therefore, hope the situation soon deescalates. Thus, the next few days will be crucial,” observed Deloitte’s Singhania.

24/02/22 Manish Pant/BusinessToday.in

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Indian passengers from Ukraine can return through Qatar, says govt

The Centre on Thursday said Indian passengers from Ukraine can return via Qatar, with aviation industry experts stating that civilian flights will restart from Ukraine only when its airspace opens.

Currently 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in Ukraine.

Since the Ukrainian airspace is closed due to the Russian military offensive, it is currently not clear how they are to travel from Ukraine to Qatar to take Qatar-India flights, which are operating normally.

The authorities of the eastern European country issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) Thursday morning stating that civilian flights within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation".

The Indian Embassy in Qatar said on Twitter, "Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers traveling from Ukraine to travel by transit under India-Qatar bilateral air bubble arrangement." This means that the passengers coming from Ukraine to Qatar will be able to board flights operating between Qatar and India.

25/02/22 PTI/Business Standard

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Air India flight to Ukraine returned after 'things escalated', says Scindia

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said an Air India flight which took off from Delhi to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine has returned mid-air after the "things escalated" there, adding that, flights from India to Ukraine will again fly, once the air-space of the concerned country opens up.

"Flights were flown for Ukraine earlier. Today also flights were flown to Ukraine but after 3 hours when things started escalating those flights came back. Whenever the air-space will open, we'll fly the flights again," said Scindia.

"We have been told that the airspace is complete as notice to airmen (NOTAM) has been issued," he added.

The Union Minister assured that the Indian government is committed to the safety and security of Indians in Ukraine.

"On the matter of Indians in Ukraine, I held a discussion with the Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. We are keeping an eye on the entire situation," he said.

"Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," Air India informed.

Notice to airmen (NOTAM), is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight.

24/02/22 ANI/Business Standard

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Russia-Ukraine conflict: How is India responding, as Indian students are stuck?

Russian forces fired missiles at several targets as loud explosions were reported in Ukraine, officials and media said on Thursday (February 24). 

Reports also mentioned that Russia has landed troops on its coast after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east. 

Amid escalating tensions, high-level meetings are underway in India's Ministry of External Affairs to discuss the contingency plans that are being put into operation to activate alternate routes to bring back stranded citizens from Ukraine, sources claimed.  

Ukrainian authorities closed the airspace to civilian flights citing a high risk to safety and given airspace closure, alternate evacuation routes are being activated.  

Additional Russian speaking officials have been sent to our Embassy in Ukraine and are being deployed in countries neighbouring Ukraine. 

Sources further informed that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine is functional and its advisories should be followed carefully.

Meanwhile, a special Air India flight returning from mid-air as Ukraine airspace is closed due to notice to airmen (NOTAM) as war has been started between Russia and Ukraine. 

India-based news agency ANI reported citing sources that an empty flight of Air India AI-1947 is returning from over Iran air space as Ukraine imposed restrictions on civilian aircraft. 

"Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," Air India informed. 

Previously, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine said, "We call for an immediate de-escalation." 

He added that the situation is in danger of "spiralling into a major crisis" and if not handled carefully, it may undermine security, adding the security of all parties should be taken into account. 

"Over 20,000 Indian students are in Ukraine, we are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals including students as we may be required," Tirumurti said.

24/02/22 WION

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India cancels special flights to Ukraine; alternative arrangements being made for evacuation

Kyiv (Ukraine):  Following the Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the country shut its airspace for civilian flights earlier today (February 24). The Indian embassy in Kyiv has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine as the Ukrainian airspace has closed. 

The information was conveyed through an advisory. The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace."Alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals. The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalized so that Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country," added the advisory.

It further suggested that Indian citizens carry their passports and necessary documents at all times. The embassy also issued helpline numbers while directing the citizens to keep following its website and social media for updates on relocation arrangements.

Partha Satpathy, the Ambassador of India to Ukraine, while acknowledging the tensed situation in the eastern European nation, urged people to stay calm and "face the situation with fortitude."

The embassy had said that the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain calm and safe."All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," it had said.

Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday set up a 24-hour Emergency Helpline for the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in the country. Indian Embassy in Ukraine said, “The present situation in #Ukraine is highly uncertain; set up 24-hour Emergency helpline, which can be accessed by dialling +380 997300428, +380 997300483.”

24/02/22 ZeeNews

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Malayali students stranded in Ukraine wait for flights home

Alappuzha: Malayali students studying in various regions of Ukraine are in misery after the Russian armed forces started shelling major cities of that country. Aswin Prasad, a native of  Kottamukal near Adoor in Pathanamthitta, is pursuing a final-year medical degree course at Kharkiv National Medical University. He said the situation seems risky.

“Now we are in the safe zone, but the Russian troops have started shelling and the sound of blasts is heard somewhere outside the city area. The hostel authorities advised us to remain inside the rooms with sufficient food and water,” he said.

“On Thursday morning, a few students who had got tickets on an Air India flight that reached Kyiv to travel to Delhi were inside the Igor Sikorsky International Airport when shelling started. They got stranded there. Later, Indian Embassy officials shifted them to the hostel of the embassy.

Another team that was on its way to Kyiv from Kharkiv — around 450-500km away — had to return to the college hostel by noon after the Ukrainian army prevented travel following heavy shelling in the capital city,” said Aswin. 

"We are doing the final year and waiting to complete the course. The seats on the Air India flights filled up immediately after the online booking started. Hence, we have reserved tickets on a chartered flight on February 26, but are now skeptical about the flight service in the coming days. The Indian Embassy advised us to continue in the same place where we are staying.” Elza, who studies at Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, said the situation is normal in her city.

“The hostel authorities advised us to take precautions. There are chances of power failure and disruption of drinking water supply. So, they asked us to stock up water. There is a small airport here and it is safe. The government can operate flights from the airport and evacuate people to India from here because the Kyiv airport has been closed following shelling,” she said. Alappuzha MP A M Ariff wrote a letter to Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar urging the Centre to arrange flights to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine.

25/02/22 Biju E Paul/New Indian Express

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Russia-Ukraine war: Parents worried as Telangana students stranded at airport, other places

Hyderabad: Telangana students, who were hoping to fly back to India, were stranded at Boryspil International Airport near Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, on Thursday after the Air India flight returned midway following a notice issued to airmen, declaring the war-torn country’s airspace is closed for commercial flights.

Kadari Sumanjali, a native of Ramachandrapuram village of Ramadugu mandal in Karimnagar district, is one such unfortunate student who, along with 20 other Indian students, was stuck at the airport. Her father Rajaiah said that she had informed him that though they were safe, there was scarcity of food and drinking water at the airport. Later, it was learnt that the stranded passengers at the airport were evacuated to other safe places in Kyiv. 

Shiva, who along with 50 other students, travelled to Kyiv by train, hoping to board the same flight. As the airport was shut down, all of them were stranded at the railway station, waiting for another train to head back to their university. 

Narendra Babu, a resident of Bodhan, whose son Vinay is a third year MBBS student, is worried about his son’s safety. Vinay booked his flight ticket, he couldn’t return home. Vinay, however, informed his dad that he is safe

A female student, who went to Ukraine just three months ago to pursue MBBS, posted a video on social media requesting Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Minister KT Rama Rao to do something to bring back all the students. The Indian Embassy in Ukraine, meanwhile, assured that efforts are on to figure out a way to evacuate all the Indian students at the earliest.

25/02/22 Vivek Bhoomi/New Indian Express

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Meghalaya students stuck in Ukraine, CM seeks MEA intervention

Shillong: At least 10 students from Meghalaya are stranded in Ukraine and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma joined his counterparts in other states to seek the intervention by ministry of external affairs to ensure safe return of all those stuck there following a military confrontation with Russia.

“Received news about students from Meghalaya stranded in #Ukraine. Humbly request Hon’ble Union External Affairs Minister @DrJaishankar Ji to ensure the safe return of all Indian citizens. We are praying for everyone’s safety. May peace prevail,” Conrad tweeted.

The students are persuing undergraduate studies at the Zaporozhye State Medical University, a family member of one of the students told PTI.

A student has reportedly told his family that tickets purchased for flights to return to India have been cancelled.

Appeals to the Centre have also been made by the chief ministers of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Jharkhand.

An Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in Ukraine on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation returned to Delhi due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace amid the Russian military offensive.

23/02/22 PTI/Print

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India and Thailand are all set get flights under air bubble arrangement

Thai Airways has announced that flights will soon resume between the two countries under the air bubble arrangement. The national carrier of Thailand has shared this news with stakeholders in India, saying that Bangkok will not have flights to Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, starting March 1.

The flights are however subject to approval from the Indian government. A statement by the airline said, “We are pleased to advise that with effective March 1, 2022, Thai Airways flights will commence between India and Thailand under Air Travel Bubble. The schedule of flights and fares is updated in all the GDS.”

Air Bubbles have been the way countries are allowing travellers to move from one destination to another, as regular scheduled flights stand suspended.

Passengers planning to travel to Thailand should however keep in mind that they must meet all travel requirements, and also could be facing health control measures. Thailand is a major tourist destination for Indians.

It has been reported that there will be five flights per week between Delhi and Bangkok, while Mumbai and Bangkok will get three times a week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Flights between Bangkok and Chennai will fly three times a week, and Bengaluru on the other hand will get two flights per week.

25/02/22 Times of India

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Mother of MP student stranded in Ukraine defrauded on pretext of return ticket

Even as families of Indian nationals, especially students, are worried stiff about their safety amidst Russian invasion on Ukraine, the mother of such a student in Vidisha of Madhya Pradesh was defrauded of Rs 42,000 on the pretext of getting a return ticket for her daughter and her friend.

City superintendent of police of Vidisha Vikash Pandey told THE WEEK that a complaint has been received and a case under Section 420 (cheating) has been registered. The officer added that a probe was on in the matter.

The CSP said Vaishali Wilson, a lab technician with the blood bank of Vidisha district hospital, lodged a complaint with the Kotwali police station saying that a man identifying himself as ‘Prince’ and claiming to be from the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) called her up on Wednesday and said that he could help in getting a return ticket for Srishti Wilson, Vaishali’s daughter, who is a fifth year student of MBBS in Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

The man convinced Vaishali to deposit Rs 42,000 in his bank account for tickets of Vaishali and one of her Indian friends stranded in Kiev. He repeatedly promised to send the ticket by Wednesday evening, then night and then by Thursday afternoon. However, the two phone numbers he was using were switched off on Thursday and the tickets were not sent.

Vaishali then got in touch with Priyank Kanungo, chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Children’s Rights (NCPCR), who also hails from Vidisha. Kanungo enquired and found that no person in that name worked with the PMO. Later, Vaishali filed a police complaint.

Incidentally, a video of Vaishali, crying out of worry for her daughter and the adverse response from MP CM Helpline suggesting her to take up the issue of return of her daughter with Ukraine police, had gone viral over social media on Wednesday, before the fraudster struck.

When THE WEEK called up the numbers used by the alleged fraudsters, one of them (09289336757) was reported switched off, while another (07060310745) reported ‘number does not exist.

24/02/22 Sravani Sarkar/The Week

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Russia-Ukraine crisis: Dubai-bound students were at Kiev airport when it was attacked

Two students, who were returning to Dubai as Russia-Ukraine tensions rose over the last few days, were at the Kiev airport on Thursday when Russian forces attacked the Eastern European country.

The Indian boys, Mohammed Raihan Thufail and Fawaz Nasser, said they were at the check-in counter of the airport when the airline cancelled the process, citing technical issues.

“I then heard an explosion, but was unaware that it was an attack. Security forces started evacuating us to safety. They created a path for us to get out of the airport safely,” Mohammed told Khaleej Times over the phone from Kiev.

Fawaz said he heard some explosions at the airport. “Airport authorities announced that we had to evacuate. We must have walked some two to three kilometres, before we reached safety. We then took a cab and went back to our hostel.”

Mohammed added: “I did not see fires or anything, but heard explosions.”

Some students, who were to fly to Dubai, are stranded in Ukraine as Russian forces launched an attack. Three UAE airlines - flydubai, Air Arabia and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi - have suspended flights to Ukraine temporarily as the country shut its airspace to civilian flights, citing a high risk to safety.

Ukraine is a popular higher education destination for students from the UAE, especially those pursuing medical studies.

Mohammed and Fawaz are first-year MBBS students at Bogomolets National Medical University. They had arrived in Kiev just three months ago after completing their schooling in the UAE.

Mohammed said his concerned family have told him to remain vigilant and follow the Indian Embassy’s directives. “We are exploring all options to return,” the boy said.

India is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine.

In an advisory, the Indian Embassy in Kiev said the schedule for special flights stands cancelled as Ukrainian airspace is closed.

“Alternative arrangements are being made for evacuation of Indian nationals,” the embassy said in the advisory. “Embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalised so that Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country. Please carry your passports and necessary documents … at all times.”

24/02/22 Sahim Salim/Khaleej Times

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Tatas may review Air India CEO choice if government ok delayed

Mumbai/New Delhi: Tata Sons will evaluate new leadership for Air India, including the appointment of a COO, as uncertainty looms over the security clearance for CEO-appointee IIker Ayci. Rules require an airline company to receive a go-ahead from the government before key managerial personnel take charge.

Ayci’s proximity to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is not exactly known as a friend of India, among other reasons, has created a buzz on social media ever since Tata Sons announced the Turkish national as the next CEO of Air India. “Various options will be considered, including the appointment of a COO, if there is a delay in the security clearance of Ayci,” said a source. Recruitment firm Egon Zehnder had shortlisted five professionals from five top airlines in the world. Tata Sons selected Ayci, 51, from that list.

The Turkish national is expected to take charge of Air India on or before April 1. “There is still some time. Tata Sons is watching the situation,” the source added. In the event of Ayci not getting security clearance, Tata Sons will select the next best from the remaining four for the CEO’s role in Air India. Interestingly, Ayci resigned from the chairman’s post at Turkish Airlines on January 27, the day Tata Sons took over Air India from the government.

Tatas selected Ayci for turning around Turkish Airlines. During his tenure with the carrier, it broke into the premier club of world’s top 10 airlines by market share.

24/02/22 Reeba Zachariah & Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Tata might relook decision to retain new Air India CEO if govt delays background check

The newly appointed CEO and MD of Air India, Ilker Ayci, a Turkish national, to undergo a thorough background check by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The sources on February 20 said MHA will “scrupulously” carry out the whole process. 

The Tata Group, which acquired Air India from the government, had recently announced Ayci's appointment as the CEO and MD of the loss-making airlines. The Home Ministry "scrupulously" carries out a thorough background check of all foreign nationals when they are appointed in the key positions of any Indian company, the sources said. It will be the same process for the newly appointed CEO and MD too, they said.

However, the MHA has not yet received any communication on Ayci from either the Tata group or the Civil Aviation Ministry, the nodal ministry. Once a communication is received, the whole process of security clearance will begin, the sources said.

Since Ayci is a Turkish national, the MHA is expected to take help from the external intelligence agency, RAW, for his background check. Ayci was an advisor of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when the latter was mayor of Istanbul, from 1994 to 1998. He had served the Turkish Airlines as its chairman from 2015 to 2022 and was credited with turning the airline around.

24/02/22 ZeeNews

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How AI 1947 avoided dangerous airspace during Ukraine operation

 New Delhi: Just as Air India 1947 was about to enter Ukrainian airspace from over the Black Sea on Tuesday, Kyiv air control gave it a couple of last-minute changed approach directions. While heading to Kyiv’s Boryspil International Airport, the usual 60-80 nautical mile (nm) turn to line up for final approach was cut short to 40 nm after asking the crew if it was okay with stabilising for landing in that reduced space, say sources. Once the AI Boeing Dreamliner 787 Dreamliner landed the crew came to know the detours were due to military activity in the airspace that was sought to be avoided by those changed routing.

The Maharaja’s touchdown with five pilots (to quickly operate the return flight), 18 crew, three engineers and two security personnel brought a big smile to the faces of the 242 Indians waiting at the airport to fly back to the safety of their home country. The personnel then quickly got down to organising the return in just over an hour with the pilots supervising the stacking of check-in baggage of passengers to ensure that centre of gravity is maintained; the security personnel doing both profiling and ladder point security check at the aerobridge and cabin crew getting passengers seated.

Kyiv is not a city that AI has flown to and it does not have any ground staff there. An external ground handling agency was hired to do the job under the supervision of the AI personnel who flew on the Boeing 787 (VT-NAA).

Sources say, Captain Karan Mehra, the senior-most among the two other commanders — Captains Rajiv Khurana and R K Sharma — and two first officers Disha and Kartik, is a veteran of evacuation flights. He had operated several evacuation flights to Libya and Benghazi in 2009.

“The ground stop in Kyiv was 1 hour and 10-15 minutes. Time was running out and there was an apprehension AI 1946 (the return flight to Delhi) may miss its take-off slot at Boryspil. There was also fear of pilots’ maximum flight duty time limitation may hit its limit. The pilots went to oversee that passengers’ cabin baggage is loaded properly. AI 1946 took one-off just in time to avoid missing those issues,” say sources.

AI had taken “great” Indian meals from India for this quick return flight. “All the passengers had reached the airport early in the morning. They were apprehensive about whether the flight will reach Kyiv and then take off from here. This flight had taken more than the required quantity of meals. The crew was told to serve as many meals as flyers ask for,” say sources.

The big change the crew observed was in the warmth of the Ukrainian air traffic personnel. “We used to fly over Ukrainian airspace very frequently before the 2014 shooting down of MH 17 after which we stopped overflying the country.”

ATC personnel of all en route countries were very cooperative as they knew it was a special evacuation flight.

24/02/22 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Ukraine closes airspace for civilian flights; AI evacuation flight on its way

As Russia announces military action into Ukraine, the country today shut its airspace for all civilian flights.

“ …Restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation,” read a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Ukrainian authorities.

Civilians flights are banned when a country wants to keep its airspace free from any aircraft so that it could detect any attempts of an air attack by a unfriendly country.

Back in 2019, Pakistan had also shut its airspace completely for civilian flights after a surgical strike by India on terror hideouts in that country. Pakistan had responded and that led to an Indian pilot being captured in Pakistan - he was later released.

Despite the NOTAM, Tata-Group owned Air India is operating a special flight to bring back Indian nationals, mainly students, from the country.

“The flight is on its way,” said an executive, who did not want to be identified.

This will be the second evacuation flight by Air India - the first one brought back about 254 Indians from the country.

According to an earlier plan by Air India, the airline was to operate third evacuation flight on Saturday but that may not happen now.

Official sources also said that other airlines too were to operate flights to bring back Indian nationals.

“Other airlines were also to operate flights to evacuate Indian nationals…,” said another source.

Now, any more evacuation flights will depend on the conditions in that country.

24/02/22 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

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242 Indian students evacuated safely to Delhi amid Ukraine-Russia tensions

New Delhi: Amid the escalating Russia-Ukraine tensions, 242 Indian students returned safely to India at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport late Tuesday evening and reunited with their parents after India started evacuation operations of Indian citizens living in Ukraine and its adjoining areas. India has deployed Dreamliner B-787 aircraft for carrying out this special operation under which flights were made operational from Kharkiv in Ukraine to New Delhi.

Nirav Patil, a first-year MBBS student studying in Ukraine, said, "The situation is normal around the area where I live. While the university has started studies online so there is not much to worry as before." Another student Krishna said, "I live 900 km away from the Ukraine-Russia border. We are around five to six students, who are residents of Gujarat. Our parents were getting quite worried. This is why we had to return to India."

Several government officials were also sent by the Rajasthan government to the Delhi airport as well as students of Rajasthan who have returned from Ukraine, the state government is busy preparing to send them safely to their home bearing their travel expenses. At present, eight students along with their parents have been asked to stay at the Rajasthan Bhawan.

24/02/22 Sentinel Assam

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Air India flight headed to Kyiv called back to Delhi

New Delhi: Air India’s Delhi-Kyiv, that took off at 7:50 am on Thursday, has been asked to return to India as a notice to airmen (NOTAM) has been issued restricting civilian flight movement in Kyiv airspace due to military activity in the region.

The airline and the government were evaluating whether it will be safe for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to continue to Ukraine since morning after Russia announced military action on Ukraine. The aircraft had entered Iranian airspace from Pakistan when the crew were asked to return to Delhi.

This was the second of the three Delhi-Kyiv-Delhi flights that were to operate this week to fly back Indians from Ukraine. But those plans were made before Russia on Thursday announced the military action in Ukraine.

AI had operated a Delhi-Kyiv-Delhi flight on Tuesday. Even that had to make a series on last-minute route changes while entering Kyiv airspace from over the Black Sea and then during approach to the Boryspil International Airport, due to military activity in the region.

24/02/22 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Gujarat students from Ukraine land in Delhi

Ahmedabad: Relief shone in their eyes when the first batch of medical students from Gujarat, who were studying in Ukraine, landed at Delhi airport on Tuesday evening.

They had escaped the rising conflict between Russia and Ukraine after Russian lawmakers authorizing Putin to use military force outside the country and Ukraine surrounded on three sides by more than 1,50,000 troops. But all was still not well as the students worried that alleged Russian cyberattacks on Ukrainian banks will compromise their accounts.

Kirtan Kalathiya, Nirav Patel, Vinit Patel from Bhavnagar, and Krish Raj from Surendranagar were among the students who flew on a Turkish Airlines flight from Kyiv to Qatar via Istanbul, and then from there to Delhi in a Qatar Airways flight on Tuesday.

24/02/22 Times of India

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Government may give go ahead to restart regular international flights from March 15

After remaining suspended for almost two years, India may resume regular international flights around March 15-20, which were shut after the pandemic broke out, sources privy to the developments told CNBC-TV18.

The union aviation ministry is likely to issue an order on the resumption of commercial international passenger flights, which remained suspended from March 2020.

The inter-ministerial nod is required for the resumption of regular international passenger flights and airlines are likely to be given around two weeks' time to prepare for the flights.

The ban on scheduled international passenger flights in India is in effect till February 28. Such flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Special passenger flights have been functioning between India and around 40 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements.

The union health ministry has issued revised guidelines for international arrivals, with effect from February 14, doing away with the mandatory seven-day home quarantine and the need for them to undertake an RT-PCR test on the eighth day.

Apart from uploading a negative RT-PCR report, taken 72 hours before the journey, there is an option to upload certificates of the completion of the full primary Covid vaccination schedule provided from countries on a reciprocal basis. Also, the demarcation of countries 'at-risk' and other countries has been removed.

24/02/22 Anu Sharma/CNBC TV18

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Russia invasion: Why Ukraine closed its airspace, what it means for Air India evacuation flights

Citing a “potential hazard to civil aviation”, Ukraine issued a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) around 7.30 am IST restricting all civilian flights to the region. An Air India flight, meant to evacuate Indian citizens from Kyiv, left from Delhi a few minutes after the NOTAM was issued, but will return in light of the restrictions. At 10.30 am IST, the flight was in Iranian airspace.

The NOTAM — a notice to pilots, ATC personnel and airline operations teams about the condition of a particular airspace — was issued on

account of the rising tensions given the build up of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. While the tensions began a few weeks ago, Ukraine

kept its airspace open for civilian flights allowing non-essential foreigners, including Indian students, families of embassy staff to fly out of the country.

Air India is operating the second of its three planned evacuation flights to Kyiv to fly out stranded Indian citizens from there.

According to flight tracking portal Flightradar24, as of 9.50 am IST, Air India’s was one of only three flights en route Kyiv Boryspil Airport. One of the other flights — Ukraine International Airlines — from Baku, diverted to an airport in Moldova, which shares its northern border with Ukraine.

While the airline hasn’t officially announced the cancellation, the restriction may result in the third flight on Saturday not operating. Even though the Ukrainian NOTAM has been made effective only till 5.30am Friday IST, it could get extended given the escalating tensions.

24/02/22 Pranav Mukul/Indian Express

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Airlines should stop flying over Ukraine amid tensions with Russia: Conflict zone monitor

A conflict zone monitor on February 23 said airlines should stop flying over any part of Ukraine because of the risk of an unintended shootdown or a cyberattack targeting air traffic control amid tensions with Russia. 

Safe Airspace, which was set up to provide safety and conflict zone information for airlines after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, said it had increased its risk level to "do not fly."

"Regardless of the actual movements of Russian forces into Ukraine, the level of tension and uncertainty in Ukraine is now extreme," Safe Airspace said on its website. "This itself gives rise to significant risk to civil aviation."

Russia has closed some airspace in the Rostov flight information region to the east of its border with Ukraine "in order to provide safety" for civil aviation flights, according to a notice to airmen. Airports at Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine are closed to traffic until the morning of February 24.  No reasons were provided for the closures.

Separatists in Ukraine asked on February 23 for Russian help to repel "aggression" and Kyiv announced compulsory military service and a state of emergency as the West slapped more sanctions on Moscow in a bid to stop an all-out invasion.

The United States, Italy, Canada, France, and Britain have advised their airlines to avoid certain airspace above eastern Ukraine and Crimea but so far have stopped short of a total ban. Safeairspace.net said it expected updated guidance could be issued soon.

24/02/22 ZeeNews

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Vijayan writes to MEA, requests to make arrangements for Indian students to return from Ukraine

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday wrote a letter to the Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asking him to ensure the safety of Indian students and requested to make necessary arrangements for their return by arranging special flights.

According to the Kerala CM, there are 2,320 students from Kerala in Ukraine. He also urged the MEA to take immediate steps for the repatriation of the students.

Taking to Twitter, CM Vijayan wrote, “Sent a letter to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for immediate intervention to ensure the safety of Indian students in Ukraine of which 2,320 are Malayalees. Demanded that steps be taken to repatriate them as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday slammed the Centre for not making timely arrangements to bring back the Indian students stuck in Ukraine.

“Turning your face away in every difficult time.. and keeping silence has become a habit of the Modi government. Our 20,000 Indian youth in Ukraine are forced to grapple with fear, apprehension and life-threatening situations. Why didn’t you make arrangements to bring them safely in time? Is this the ‘self-reliant’ mission?,” said Surjewala in a tweet.

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) on Thursday landed at the Delhi airport at around 7:45 am carrying 182 Indian nationals, mostly students. Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely.

24/02/22 ANI/Print

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At least 10 students from Karnataka stranded in Ukraine: CM Bommai

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said at least ten students of the state are stranded in Ukraine, and the government is working with the Indian Embassy there and Ministry of External Affairs to bring them back home safely.

He said that he will also be speaking to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in this regard.

“At the time when war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, about hundred Indian students were on their way to the airport in two buses and got stranded, as the flights could not land. More than 10 are from Karnataka, we are gathering information about them,” Bommai said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, his government is in constant touch with the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, the Chief Secretary is in touch with the Foreign Secretary, and that he will also be personally speaking to the External Affairs Minister in this regard.

“A message has been sent to the Embassy, and the Embassy is guiding the students on where to reach and the security situation. They should be safe first, and when the flights begin operation, all measures will be taken to bring them back home, in coordination with the Government of India,” he added.

Stating that students were coming back to India in batches as per their convenience, the Chief Minister said, this was probably the last batch and they had almost reached the airport, when the situation changed.

India on Thursday was firming up contingency plans including activating alternate air routes to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine as the spectre of a massive Russian offensive loomed over the eastern European country after President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation.

24/02/22 PTI/Print

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Efforts on to arrange more flights for Indians wishing to return from Ukraine: MoS External Affairs

Kottayam: Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Wednesday said efforts are being made to arrange more flights, as per requirement, for bringing back Indians from Ukraine in view of the escalating political tensions there.

Muraleedharan, speaking to reporters at Kottayam, said the central government was responsible for ensuring safety and welfare of nearly 20,000 Indians, majority of them students, presently in Ukraine and towards that goal the External Affairs Ministry was working with the Civil Aviation Ministry to arrange more flights for those wishing to come back.

He said efforts are being made to arrange more flights in view of the situation that many Indians there do not have the requisite means to return and added that no one was being forced to come back presently.

Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP K Sudhakaran shot off a letter on Wednesday to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for ensuring more flights out of Ukraine for Indians.

The Congress MP, in his letter, said he was receiving several complaints that there was an acute scarcity of flights out of that country and as a result, air fare charges have soared. This has made it difficult for Indian students, wishing to return, to purchase air tickets, he said.
23/02/22/Print

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Air India flight lands in Delhi from Ukraine, students who returned say ‘tension building up’

New Delhi: An Air India special flight, AI1946, from Kyiv in Ukraine landed in Delhi around 11.30 pm on Tuesday.

Those on board were mostly students who were returning after the Indian embassy in Ukraine issued advisories asking them to leave Ukraine temporarily.

On Tuesday night, families crowded around the arrival gates well in advance, waiting for returning students.

Dhruv Malhotra, a fifth-year student of medicine in the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine, was among those who returned. “Right now, it’s peaceful and the situation is under control in Kharkiv and Kyiv. But the tension seems to be building up, and we were advised to leave,” he said.

Malhotra, who is from Vrindavan, said that his friends are also headed back soon, some on the Air India flights scheduled for the next few days, and others who have booked on other airlines. In addition to the one that landed on Tuesday, Air India is operating two special flights between Kyiv and Delhi on February 24 and 26.

Mohammad Alfaiz, a second-year student of medicine from Delhi, said that there seemed to be a lot of tension among the Ukrainians. “The situation is normal so far, but students are worried,” he said.

“Classes will now be held online. It will have an impact on our studies, since practicals will be affected, and we’ll be able to get back only once the situation returns to normal,” said Mohammad Zeeshan, also a second-year MBBS student from Mumbai. “Our friends will be returning soon as well. People are returning as and when they are able to book flights. The flight tickets we have been seeing are very expensive.”

23/02/22 Abhinaya Harigovind/Indian Express

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Uncertainty shrouds Tata's Air India CEO pick, a Plan B may be needed

The appointment of Turkish expat Ilker Ayci as CEO of Air India may hit turbulent weather over government approvals and security clearances, for which Tata Sons is understood to have made the requisite applications, top officials close to the development told ET.

The approvals may be more than just a formality in the backdrop of edgy India-Turkey relations and the fact that Ayci is seen as close to Turkish president Racep Tayyip Erdogan, considered as a Pakistan ally. Tata Sons had announced Ayci as the new Air India CEO on February 15.

"Everything is up to the government now as Air India has always been seen as a national pride and asset. Also aviation is a sector that gets close scrutiny from a security point of view," said a highly placed official close to the development.

The government is also understood to have informally discussed the matter with Tata Group officials given the sensitive nature of the issue.

Ayci's work credentials are impressive as he is seen as a solid leader who ensured the success of Turkish Airlines in a challenging environment.

"However, a lot now depends on what view the government takes," said a highly placed official close to the development.

"In the eventuality of the appointment not sailing through, Tata Sons may have to keep a Plan B ready as a contingency measure," one of the people cited above said. This is because the Tatas would like the new CEO to take charge of Air India, which faces huge operational challenges, as soon as possible.

Considering the nature of the business and subject matter, a go-ahead by the government will require careful deliberation, officials said.

23/02/22 Kala Vijayaraghavan/Economic Times

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Madhya Pradesh students in Ukraine begin home trip on Vande Bharat flights

Bhopal: Students from Madhya Pradesh, who were in Ukraine, started taking the special Air India flights back home on Tuesday.

Around 200 youngsters from MP were studying in Ukraine, mostly medicine. When TOI had spoken with some of them less than a week ago, they were keeping their fingers crossed but not unduly worried.

Most of them were reluctant to return home, saying they couldn't afford the travel costs and the return trip. Some of them had begun packing their bags, 'just in case'.

On Tuesday, with Russia ordering troops into separatist areas of Ukraine, India began evacuating its nationals. When TOI called one of them, Miraj Khan, he said was boarding an aircraft in Kyiv.

"I am at the airport and coming back home (to MP). I am keen to reach home soon," he said. Another student, Sanskaar Verma, told TOI that he and fellow Indians were leaving Ukraine too.

"Yes, we will come back soon," said the first-year medical student who is pursuing his degree from Ternopil University.

In Bhopal, the parents of one of the students are counting down the hours. Requesting not to be named, they said their son wasn't keen on coming back.

"We had asked him to return but he wanted to wait it out as air fares are too expensive. Now, the situation has become tough and he has no option. He has decided to come back at the earliest," they said.

23/02/22 Ramendra Singh/Times of India

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