The UK has
announced seven further charter flights to
bring over 2,000 stranded British
travellers home from
India.
Once these
flights are completed, over 15,000 British travellers will
have been brought back from India on 59 flights chartered by
the Government.
Details of
the flights are:
· Amritsar
to London Heathrow on 5 May, 6 May, 7 May, 8 May, 9 May,
10 May, 11 May
Minister of
State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of
Wimbledon said:
“Our charter
programme has already helped more
than 10,000 British travellers return
home from India by ensuring flights to the UK have
run every day since 8 April,
with thousands more due to depart in the
coming days.
“These
additional flights will help over 2,000
more people get
back to their loved ones here in the UK. I
would like to thank the Government of India for their help in
making it happen.”
Jan
Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India,
said:
“This
fifth round of
flights brings the total number of planes we
have organised from India to 59. There have been
daily departures from across the country for
weeks, which have helped thousands of people get
back to their friends and families in the
UK.
“My team and
I will continue to do all we can to support British people
who remain in India.”
As with the
last round of flights, seats on the planes will be allocated to
those who have already registered via
the government’s online
booking portal - CTM.
Staff at the
British High Commission in India will continue
to provide assistance
to those waiting to return
to the UK.
Since the
coronavirus outbreak began, the UK has worked consistently with
governments, air carriers and travel companies to minimise
disruption and help British travellers return home safely –
supported with £75 million for special charter flights to
priority countries like India, focused on helping the most
vulnerable people.
ENDS
NOTES TO
EDITORS:
· Those
who are eligible to fly will be sent information on how to get to
airports and flight itineraries directly when their seat
is
confirmed.
· Details
regarding flights, luggage allowance and costs are available on
the India Travel Advice
page.
· The
UK Government has previously announced 52 charter flights
bringing back over 13,000 people from India. Today’s
announcement brings that total to 59 flights, catering for 15,000
people. To date, over 10,000 of those people have
travelled, with the remaining amount due in coming
weeks.
· The
British High Commission continues to provide consular support to
any British nationals who remain in India. Consular helpline
numbers: New Delhi: +91 (11) 2419 2100; Chennai: +91 (44)
42192151; Mumbai/Goa: +91 (22) 6650 2222.
