Muscat: The air-bubble agreement signed by India with around 30 countries, including Oman, is likely to continue for now, which means only a few airlines will be allowed to operate with limited seats in the offering.
As per the agreement, both Indian and Omani airlines can carry the following passengers – nationals/residents of Oman, any Indian national holding a valid residency permit of Oman, and destined for Oman only.
Currently, only Oman Air and Salam Air, Air India, and Air India Express are allowed to carry passengers in this sector.
Passengers, both residents and citizens travelling to India and from India, have been hoping for the widening of the air bubble agreement that will allow more airlines to operate in this sector, and subsequently, bring fares down.
For this week, two-way ticket fares to India’s commercial capital, Mumbai, start from RO 260.
The air bubble agreement between Oman and India allows passengers with valid visas from both sides to travel freely.
India’s Civil Aviation Ministry has said that the government is evaluating the process for normalizing international operations and that it wants to return to normalcy while keeping in mind the Covid pandemic in certain parts of the world.
Scheduled international passenger flights to and from India remain suspended since March 2020.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the suspension on scheduled international passenger flights untill November 30, 2021.
Under an air bubble arrangement between two countries, their respective carriers can operate international passenger flights into each other’s territories subject to certain conditions.
