India News | India Proposed Air Bubble to South Korea in July 2021; Waiting for Its Response: Scindia

New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The Indian government had proposed an air bubble to the South Korean government in July last year and the Centre has been waiting for its response, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday.

Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020 in view of the Covid pandemic.

Also Read | IAF Helicopter Crash: Inquiry Rules Out Mechanical Failure, Blames Spatial Disorientation of Pilots in Clouds Leading to Accident.

However, special flights have been operating between India and around 40 countries since July 2020 on the basis of air bubble arrangements formed with them.

Congress Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said on Twitter that some 8,000 Indians living in South Korea are protesting the absence of an air bubble between the two countries.

Also Read | IAF Helicopter Crash: No Foul Play, Chopper Carrying CDS General Bipin Rawat Crashed Due to Entry Into Clouds, Says Inquiry Report.

"Since March 2020 India has suspended direct flights to and from South Korea, doubling travel costs for NRIs there. Not clear why since COVID-19 is well controlled there," he mentioned.

In response, Scindia said on Twitter that an air bubble was proposed to the government of South Korea in July 2021.

"The response is still awaited," the minister added.

The Indian government is actively watching, engaging with countries and calibrating its approach in accordance with the global COVID-19 situation, he mentioned. "Needless to say, safety is our top priority," he noted.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)