A security personnel wearing protective gear stands guard as he waits for Indian citizens flown home from Dubai by Air India flight to arrive at the Chennai International Airport in southern Tamil Nadu state. AFP
UAE residents who are stranded in India should expect flights home to begin in the coming weeks, the Emirati ambassador to New Delhi said.
Ahmed Al Banna said the many thousands waiting to return would soon be reunited with their families in the Emirates.
At present, only special Air India repatriation and private chartered flights are allowed to operate – and they cannot take passengers in the other direction.
Even those who secured permission from the UAE's immigration authorities cannot return until passenger flights are given the green-light.
“I don't think that there should be any sort of panic among the community,” Mr Ahmed Al Banna told The National in an interview.
“In India, there are indications to open international flights in the coming month and UAE airlines, particularly Etihad Airways, recently announced plans to increase scheduled flights to several destinations from next month to major cities in India, like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kochi.”
UAE residents in India have appealed to both governments to hasten the process so they can return to their jobs and families in the Emirates.
Many Dubai residents were cleared to fly within minutes this week when Emirates Airline and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs opened a permission-to-return website. Others have approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
25/06/20 Ramola Talwar Badam/National
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UAE residents who are stranded in India should expect flights home to begin in the coming weeks, the Emirati ambassador to New Delhi said.
Ahmed Al Banna said the many thousands waiting to return would soon be reunited with their families in the Emirates.
At present, only special Air India repatriation and private chartered flights are allowed to operate – and they cannot take passengers in the other direction.
Even those who secured permission from the UAE's immigration authorities cannot return until passenger flights are given the green-light.
“I don't think that there should be any sort of panic among the community,” Mr Ahmed Al Banna told The National in an interview.
“In India, there are indications to open international flights in the coming month and UAE airlines, particularly Etihad Airways, recently announced plans to increase scheduled flights to several destinations from next month to major cities in India, like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kochi.”
UAE residents in India have appealed to both governments to hasten the process so they can return to their jobs and families in the Emirates.
Many Dubai residents were cleared to fly within minutes this week when Emirates Airline and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs opened a permission-to-return website. Others have approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
25/06/20 Ramola Talwar Badam/National
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