DOHA: Starting 18 August, an air bubble between India and Qatar would be established following an agreement between Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority and the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.
This paves the way for Indian expatriates to return to Qatar, most of whom were stranded in their home country following the pandemic and disruptions in air travel, among other factors.
The Indian ministry in a 14 August letter said: “Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) may clear the flights of Qatar Airways and Indian carriers on a weekly basis in equitable manner (based on comparable number of seats) provided they submit clearances from the concerned State Government and the Indian Mission in Qatar along with the application for the flights.”
The letter added: “The Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar vide letter dated 13/8/2020 has conveyed acceptance of the agreement from 18-31 August 2020 as proposed in our letter dated 13/08/2020.”
As per the letter, those allowed to fly to Qatar out of India would be solely Qatari nationals or any Indian national holding any type of valid Qatar visa and destined for Qatar. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Qatar with the particular visa category before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.
The letter also said “traffic carried from India to Qatar will comprise passengers destined for Qatar only”, meaning people would not be able to board flights to Qatar to transit to other destinations via Hamad International Airport.