The Governor’s Office believes it has made a breakthrough that could allow hundreds of stranded Indian nationals to return to their home country in early July.
Plans for an evacuation flight were put on hold amid an impasse between British Airways and the Indian government over stringent requirements for personal protective equipment for all flight crews coming into the country.
The operating procedures required by Indian authorities go beyond masks and gloves and include full hazmat suits and face shields.
British Airways is among a number of airlines which have said they are not willing to comply with those conditions and it had seemed a repatriation flight for Cayman’s out-of-work Indian community would not be possible.
But Matthew Forbes, head of the Governor’s Office, told the Cayman Compass this morning (Tuesday) that they are now hopeful that the group could travel to London on the next airbridge and link up with a different airline for the second leg of the journey.
He said switching airlines in London was not a simple process because of visa requirements, but a provisional agreement is now in place with one of BA’s partner airlines to make that happen.
“We have an agreement in place and we believe we can put a flight on the first week of July,” Forbes said.
16/06/20 James Whittaker/Cayman Compass
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Plans for an evacuation flight were put on hold amid an impasse between British Airways and the Indian government over stringent requirements for personal protective equipment for all flight crews coming into the country.
The operating procedures required by Indian authorities go beyond masks and gloves and include full hazmat suits and face shields.
British Airways is among a number of airlines which have said they are not willing to comply with those conditions and it had seemed a repatriation flight for Cayman’s out-of-work Indian community would not be possible.
But Matthew Forbes, head of the Governor’s Office, told the Cayman Compass this morning (Tuesday) that they are now hopeful that the group could travel to London on the next airbridge and link up with a different airline for the second leg of the journey.
He said switching airlines in London was not a simple process because of visa requirements, but a provisional agreement is now in place with one of BA’s partner airlines to make that happen.
“We have an agreement in place and we believe we can put a flight on the first week of July,” Forbes said.
16/06/20 James Whittaker/Cayman Compass
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