Air connectivity between Bangladesh and India, which has been placed on suspension for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is likely to resume on September 3 under the Air Bubble arrangement.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, sent a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Saturday conveying its readiness to resume the flights.
“This Ministry has examined the proposal in consultation with the health authorities of India and would like to propose resumption of operations under the Air Bubble with seven frequencies per week (for carriers of either country)” the letter said.
Initially, the carriers of both countries will operate seven flights per week until the normal operation resumes.
According to the letter, Indian carrier Spicejet will get three frequencies for the Dhaka-Kolkata-Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai route.
Both Air India and Indigo will get two frequencies for the Dhaka-Kolkata route.
Passengers travelling from Bangladesh to India will take mandatory self-paid confirmatory molecular tests on arrival at the Indian airports concerned (port of entry), the letter said.
It may be noted that passengers holding tourist visas are allowed to enter India as on date, it added.
Bangladesh proposed to resume the flights from August 20. However, it did not come to fruition due to the objection from the Indian health ministry.