After a long hiatus for the covid pandemic, flight operations between Bangladesh and India are likely to resume today (Saturday).
Bangladesh has accepted seven flights a week offered by India under the Air Bubble Agreement.
The air bubble agreement is that the flight will run between two specific destinations, with no transit anywhere in between.
Under the agreement, anyone traveling to India on a travel visa will have to undergo a coronavirus test at their own expense upon arrival at an Indian airport.
Earlier on Thursday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) issued a letter to the Indian Civil Aviation Authority. According to CAAB, passengers from India can come to Bangladesh with 'business visa'. After coming to Bangladesh, they have to stay in home quarantine for 14 days.
Of the seven flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate two weekly flights from Dhaka to Kolkata, two to Delhi and three of US Bangla Airlines from Dhaka to Chennai.
US-Bangla Airlines will leave Dhaka for Chennai at 10.30 am every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and will land in Chennai at 12.40 pm local time. It will leave Chennai for Dhaka at 1.30 pm on the same day and land in Dhaka at 4.30 pm, US-Bangla Airlines said in a press release on Friday.
After landing at Chennai airport, passengers will have to undergo molecular tests at their own expense. All visas except for those with travel visa can currently travel to India under the Air Bubble Agreement, said the release.
On the other hand, India has allowed its three airlines to operate seven flights a week. Of these, SpiceJet will operate three flights a week and Indigo and Air India will operate two flights a week. CAAB has sent a proposal to the Indian authorities to operate 10 flights from next week. Earlier, a notice on Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ website said that flights to Kolkata, Delhi and Kuwait have been suspended till September 30.
