Air India updates travel protocols

Our Correspondent

India’s national carrier Air India has issued an advisory to travel agents regarding pre-flight registration of passengers. Before heading to airport, Indian expats flying to India from the UAE should fill the pre-departure registration procedures. The details should be registered under the Air Suvidha initiative, which is available on the website of New Delhi Airport.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, travellers to India should submit a self-declaration form on the online portal at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel or physically upon arrival at the respective health counters.

They should also give an undertaking to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, through the airlines, before they undertake the journey that they would undergo institutional or home quarantine or self-monitoring of their health for 14 days, as prescribed by the appropriate government authority.

Air India has clarified that the advisory to finish these procedures prior to reaching the airport of departure from the UAE was issued to prevent passengers crowding at the airports to do last-minute registration. Passengers crowding at departure terminals to fill up registration forms can go against social distancing protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19, airlines officials pointed out.

“We have informed the travel agents to convey this message to the passengers. We have also requested them to help blue-collar workers, who may not have a smartphone or internet facility, to complete the online procedure,” said an official. “Specific pre-registration documentation is required to be completed by the passengers prior to departure. All passengers are to please complete the pre-registration requirements well in advance (before arriving in the airport terminal),” the advisory stated.

Air India also told passengers visiting Dubai from India on tourist or visit visas that a valid return ticket is mandatory to board a flight.

“Indian nationals who are intending to travel to Dubai on visit visa or tourist visa or desire to obtain visa on arrival are permitted to travel only if they are in possession of a valid return ticket. The passengers must be holding valid return tickets and not necessarily a single/conjunction ticket,” the advisory stated.

Recently many visitors, mainly from Pakistan and India, were denied entry to Dubai and sent back because they did not follow the entry requirements.