Travellers in limbo as India flights uncertain

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and the two local airlines are yet to get the requisite approval from India to resume flights to the neighbouring country from today, leaving hundreds of passengers who bought tickets in a state of suspense.

Different Indian media reported yesterday that the scheduled Biman flights from today have been called off as the two aviation authorities could come into an agreement on the resumption of flights, which has been on pause for four months after the second wave of coronavirus cases in India.

Earlier on August 18, Biman announced the resumption of flights to Kolkata and Delhi from today under the "air bubble" agreement. There would be two flights to Delhi and three flights to Kolkata every week.

Following the announcement, hundreds of Bangladeshis, most of whom are patients and students and were waiting for long to fly to India, bought tickets.

One such passenger is Sharifa Begum from Rajbari, Faridpur. She bought tickets to Delhi for her 11-year-old son's treatment and booked doctor's appointments and hotels accordingly.

"But the flight cancellation has put us in a big problem," she said.

AMRI Hospitals said it processed 300-400 visa invitation forms for Bangladesh patients who were scheduled to visit next week, reports The Times of India.

Most of them have emergency surgeries or treatment lined up, according to Rupak Barua, chief executive officer of AMRI.

"They mostly visit for complicated neuro and gastric surgeries that can't wait. So, we will end up losing these patients," he added.

Out of the foreigners who visit India for medical purposes, 45 percent are from Bangladesh, according to the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Contacted, a top official of Biman told The Daily Star yesterday that they had announced the resumption of flights from today following a statement of Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who on August 17 said that flight operations between Bangladesh and India will resume from August 20.

The foreign minister also said that India had agreed to resume flight operations based on a request made by Bangladesh considering the demand.

More than 3,500 Bangladeshis travel to India daily on an average, with about 10 percent of them being medical tourists.

"We have already informed the passengers about the prevailing situation. They will be able to change their ticket on their preferable day without any extra charge. Besides, passengers will also be able to take a refund of their ticket if they want," he added.

A top official of CAAB told The Daily Star that they are yet to get any formal reply from their Indian counterpart about resuming flights with Bangladesh from August 11 under the air bubble agreement.

CAAB sent the letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India on August 4.

"That is why it is hard for us to say right now when the flights between the two countries will resume," the CAAB official said wishing anonymity.

Earlier, when the pandemic began in March last year, air communication with India was closed for several months. Flights resumed on October 28 last year under the air bubble agreement.